Center launches “One Nation, One Ration Card” scheme

The center on Thursday launched, “One Nation, One Ration Card” scheme. The main motive behind this is to ensure that no poor person, when he shifts from one place to another, is deprived of getting subsidized food-grains under the food security scheme.

The scheme also ensures that people can’t take undue advantage of having more than one card. This scheme will also help in removing duplications. This scheme first came into light in March 2018 when Center planned to have a real-time online database for ration cards - Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS).

IMPDS is functional in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tripura, as stated by food ministry. Under this, a person can take his share of food in any district in any state.

Migrant laborers are the one who would be benefited the most. While speaking at a meeting held by state food secretaries, Union food minister, and chairperson, Ram Vilas Paswan said, “They will have full food security. This will also provide freedom to the beneficiaries as they will not be tied to any one PDS shop. It will curtail instances of corruption.”