The Odisha government has announced that it will implement the Centre’s ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ initiative in the State starting from September 1.
According to State Minister for Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Ranendra Pratap Swain, the initiative will be implemented on a pilot basis for ration card holders under the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, and subsequently across the State.
“We are going to introduce ration card portability on a pilot basis in Bhubaneswar, and it will be replicated in other parts of the State in a phased manner,” said Mr. Swain.
The Central government’s ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ initiative was launched recently. Once implemented fully, it will enable the beneficiaries to procure ration from any fair price shop across the country.
Aadhaar link
The Minister said the beneficiaries under both the National Food Security Act and the State Food Security Scheme will be able to get their ration items from any public distribution shop.
An official of the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department said the ration cards will be linked to the Aadhaar card of the beneficiaries.
This will prevent those having multiple ration cards from procuring ration from two shops at different places.
However, the beneficiaries, who cannot enrol themselves in Aadhaar due to some reasons, will continue to get the benefits by producing certificates issued by the authorities concerned.
The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department has directed the Khurda district administration to implement the scheme in 127 fair price shops in 67 wards of the BMC from September 1, the officials said.
Deadline Aug. 31
The beneficiaries will have to give their finger prints on a machine to avail rations, the officials added. The State government has set the deadline for linking Aadhaar number with the ration cards till August 31.
At present, the beneficiaries covered under NFSA and State Food Security Scheme get five kg subsidised foodgrains per head every month. The State government has also rolled out a pilot project in Malkangiri district to supply fortified rice grains containing iron, folic acid, Vitamin A and Vitamin B12 to reduce malnutrition among the PDS beneficiaries.
(With PTI inputs)
