Lok Sabha Question No. 1368 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-27
Subject: Progress in ONORC Scheme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Sanjay Bhatia

## GOVERI{MENT  OF INDIA

## Mll{tsTRy  oF GONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  puBl.tc  DtsTRIBUTtoil DEPARTMENT  OF FOOD AND PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 1368 TO BE ANSWERED  ON 27f.tJt LYr20,21

## PROGRESS  IN ONORC SCHEME

## t{368. SHRTSAilJAYBHAT|A:

Wiil the Minister  of GONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD AND  pUBLtC D,STR'BUTION  :,qsfrar  mrd, ar6.* Jil,{  Triitfr- fdrr* ** A"  ef""r"o to state:

- (a)  whether the Government proposes  to consider the impottance  of One Nation one Ration Gard (olrroRG),  if so, the progress  made in this regard  ti, date;
- (b)  whether the Government proposes  to take decision  on expranation  of the period  of picking  up and distribution  under  phase  ,r and  phase  rv of PMGKAY as per operationat needs emerged due to adverce crimatic conditions like monsoon  and snowfar,  supp! services and GovtD - induced obstacles, if so, the details  thereof;
- (c) the steps taken to remove the difficurties of the poor peopre  retating to financiat probrems  which emerged  due to corona  virus with the provision of additional allocataon?

## MrNrsrER  oF srArE  r"- #xia*#'=J,  *r*. DEVEL.'MENTAITD coilsuMER AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  puBLtC  DtsTRtBUTtON (sADHVt  NTRANJAN  JYOTr)

- (a): under  pubtic  Distribution  system (pDS)  reforms,  the one Nation one Ration  card (oNoRG) ptan  for nation-wide  portabitity  Nationat Food security Act (NFSA)'  2o{3 ration cards is enabred  in 33 states/urs,  covering armost 86'7% NFSA popuration  (about  69 Grore NFSA beneficiaries)  in the country. Delhi being the ratest to enabte the same from Jury 202{. Further, regurar follow up has been done with 3 remaining  states/UT of Assam, Ghhattisgarh and west Bengat to enabre the oNoRc ptan  for the benefit  ot migrant NFSA beneficiaries.

- (b): tn view of the COVID-,'  retated difficulties,  a,, State/UT Governments  have been requested  to ensure distribution  of both NF'A and PMGXA' foodglains  from a,  Fpssr on "r, o"r.  of the month and for extended hours/duration\_  of the oay ior staggerea  and ensured distribution to a'  NF'A beneficiaries  w:ttr art covti  safety protocots  and GovrD appropriate  behavior  at ar! Fpss and ptaces  of  pDS  operations.  ri" rirting  ot foodgrains  under the  pM-GKAy  ptrase-ttt  rs compreted  by states/UTs,  white armost  g3%  of  phase-rt!  distribution  is arso achieved  so far. Further,  pMGKAY Phase-lv is valid up to tlovem ber 2o21 and as per extant  norms the States/UTs  are required  to comptete  the lifting  of foodgrains  for a distribution  month up to the end of ihe respective  month itsetf.
- (c): During  the COVlD.lg  crisis, to ensure  that no poor,  needy and vurnerabre  beneficiary  in the country suffer on account  of non-avairabirity  of foodgrains,  the Department  undef the  pradhan  Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yoiana (PM'GKAY)  had atlocated nearty 322 LMT and 278LMT foodgrains  in the year 2O2o and 2o2{ respectivety,  ror free of cost distribution  to ail ilFSA benericiaries  during  ttre a miittrs period  in 2020 (from  Aprir to November  2020) and 7 months period  in zozi  lsrom,ay to rovemuer zozr;. These add'tionar foodgrains  are distributed  io art beneficiaries  over and above their regurar  monthry NFSA foodgrains.  Further,  states/urs  aie arso advised to make speciar efforts to encourage  m:grant NF$A beneficiaries  to use the facirity of ration cards portabirity  ,nder the one Nation one Ration Gard (ONORC)  ptan.