Eligibility, Launch date, Objectives and Benefits of One Nation, One Ration Card

One Nation, one ration card scheme is under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which the department implements for the nationwide portability of ration cards. One Nation, one ration card scheme, can allow cardholders to access their entitlements from anywhere in the country from the different states. The Scheme of ration cards was started in 1945. A ration card is a document that works as nationality proof. It also identifies the economic status of an individual. There are four different colours of ration cards, i.e. blue, pink, white and yellow. Their colours recognise them.

Foreword 

The government launched a one Nation One ration card plan to allow cardholders to access their entitlements from anywhere in India. Earlier with the help of ration cards, the cardholders could purchase subsidised food and grains only from their locality. With this scheme, they can avail the facility in any part of the country. Citizens who declare themselves below the poverty line will be eligible to benefit from this scheme. Under the National Food Security Act, ration cardholders get rice at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg, and coarse grains at Rs 1 per kg from designated Fair Price Shops. 

Eligibility for One Nation One ration card Scheme

Citizens who declare themselves below the poverty line will be eligible for the One Nation one ration card scheme. Any Indian citizen can apply for the ration card. The citizens under the age of 18 years are included with their parent’s ration card, and the citizen above 18 years can apply for a separate ration card. A person can’t have two different ration cards as per the current system. There are four categories of ration cards. There are four different ration cards colours, i.e. blue, pink, white, and yellow. Their colours recognise them.

Benefits of One Nation and One ration card scheme

The benefit of the One Nation and One ration card scheme is especially for migrant workers all over the country. Many people migrate from their palaces to different parts of the country to work. This scheme will help cardholders receive food grains in any part of the country. This scheme provides universal access to PDS food grains for migrant workers. This scheme will help in achieving the target of ending hunger by 2030. 

The launch date of the One Nation and one ration card scheme

Shri launched the One nation and one ration card scheme in UT Chandigarh. V P Singh Badnore, the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh on 31st October 2020. The celebration was on the occasion of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. It was organised at Sukhna Lake, Chandigarh. The government launched this scheme under the National Food Security Act(NFSA), 2013. This One ration card plan helps the migrants to get ration when he/she moves out to other states. The migrants can use helpline no. 14445 for the facility of this scheme. They can even visit the window in the department to register under the ONORC Scheme. The documents required to avail of the scheme are an Aadhar card, ration card, bank details and address proof. This scheme is the distribution of highly subsidised food grain is achieved through the nationwide portability of ration cards. The implementation is done through an IT-driven system by filling the Aadhar number with the ration cards and biometric authentication for transactions in the states.

The following is the list of a few states implementing the One Nation one ration card scheme-

1. Andaman & Nicobar 
2. Andhra Pradesh (2019)
3. Arunachal Pradesh (2020)
4. Assam 
5. Bihar (2020)
6. Chandigarh (2020)
7. Chhattisgarh (2022)
8. Delhi (2021)
9. Goa (2020)
10. Gujrat (2019)
11. Karnataka (2021) 

The One Nation, one ration card scheme, was proposed to roll out in June 2020. Initially enabled in the cluster of 24 states approx. The rest of the states and UTs had successfully onboarded the ration cards under the NFSA( National Food Security Act). The cardholders and their family members who registered in ration cards can avail of the food grains from fair price shops, and the authentication will be based on a biometric or Aadhar.

Conclusion 

A ration card was the facility where one could get subsidised food and grains only from their locality. With the help of the One Nation, one ration card scheme, cardholders will benefit from accessing their entitlements from anywhere in India. Any Indian citizen can apply for the ration card. The citizens under the age of 18 years are included with their parent’s ration card, and the citizen above 18 years can apply for a separate ration card. The benefit of the One Nation and One ration card scheme is especially for migrant workers all over the country. Many people migrate from their palaces to different parts of the country to work. This scheme will help cardholders receive food grains in any part of the country.