Lok Sabha Question No. 3832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-17
Subject: Implementation of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ Scheme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Arun Sao, Vijay Baghel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFA!RS,  FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED OUESTION NO. 3832 TO BE ANSWERED  ON {7TH MARGH, 2O2O

## IMPLEMENTATION  OF  iONE  NATION  ONE RATION CARD' SCHEME

t3832.  SHRI ARUN SAO:

SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRST FOOD AND PUBLIG D I ST Rt B U T I O N 3qgtfiT  a1re, wqa alf rrffi+ fuf<ur d* re  pt  eased to state  :

- (a)  whether the Government has issued/proposes  to issue new ration cards to improve the working of the Public Distribution system (PD$) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether the Government is imptementing  'one  Nataon one Ration Gardt scheme in the country,  if so, the details of anstruction  issued to the States and the time frame fixed in this regard;
- (d)  whether some State Govemments have refused to implement  the said scheme  on the plea that the independence  of state Governments  is likely to be affected  by implementing  the same; and
- (e)ifso,thedetailsthereofalongwiththedecisiontaken/likelytobe taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTERoFSTATEFoRMINISTRYoFGoNSUMERAFFAIRS'FooD& PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(sHRt DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

- (a)&(b):?{odirectionhasbeengiventostates/UTsforissuanceofnew ration cards to eligibte beneficiaries under the National Food security  Act, 2ol3(ilFsA).However,forthesakeofuniformityunder.oneNationone Ratlon Gardt plan, they have been advised  to adopt a standard iormat whenevertheydecidetoissue/printnewratloncardsunderNFEAinthe ftiture.

,...21-

(c): Under PDS reforms, the Department an association  with State/UT Governments is  implementing  a  scheme on 'lntegrated anagement of Public Dlstribution  System (!M-PDS)' w.e.f. April 2O{8. This scheme inter-alia includes  implementation of nation-wide portability of ration card holders covered under NFSA, to enable the migratory ration card holders in the country to llft their entitled quota of subsidised foodgrains  from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice anywhere  in the country by using their existing/same ration card after blometric/Aadhaar authentication  on a electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device installed at the FPSs through  "One  Jtlation One Ratlon Gard" plan. The validity of the lMPDS scheme is up to  3110,312021.  So farr under the scheme, the national/inter-State  portability of ration card holderc is functional in {2 States/UTs. Further, integration  of remaining  States/UTs depends on their readiness to implement the same. Administrative  approval for the implementation  of IM-PDS scheme and necessary  guidelines for the amptementation of inter€tate/national  portability under the scheme have becn shared with the States/UTs.

(d) & (e): So far, 3{ States/UTs have signed the Memorandum of Underctanding  (MoU) with the Department  for the implementation  ot lM' PDS scheme including national portability of ration card holdercr whereas, the Department :s pursuang the signlng of MoU with remainlng  States/UTs.

Further, under nationat  portability, there is no added burden on any State/UT, as the quota of foodgrains distributed to other States'/UTs' ration card hotdens, shall be periodically  reconciled and adiusted between the concemed States/UTs through central system. The existing system ot States/UTs for distributing  foodgrains to own beneficiaries  remains same/unaltered, as nattonal portability through One Nation One Ration Gard ptan mainty intends to benefit those ration card holders under NFSA who migrate across the country in search of temporary employment,  etc.