After one nation, one election proposal, now the BJP-led central government is working on a plan to launch a “One Nation One Ration Card”.
According to the Indian Express, the 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme will help beneficiaries, especially migrant workers, to access the Public Distribution System from any PDS shop across the country. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan told the leading daily, “The target is to complete the formalities of the scheme in one year. The availability of PoS (Point of Sale) machines needs to be ensured at all PDS shops to implement the scheme. PoS machines are available at all PDS shops in various states, like Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, and a few other others, but 100 percent availability is required to provide the benefit across the country.”
The scheme is aimed to provide freedom to beneficiaries, as through One Nation One Ration Card they will not be tied to one PDS shop. This will reduce their dependence on shop owners and curtail corruption. Paswan further added that the biggest beneficiaries will be migrant workers who move to other states to seek better job opportunities.
The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution. The Indian Express reported that in a statement ministry said that the Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS), under which beneficiaries can avail their share of food grain from any district, is operational in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Tripura.