One nation one Card

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) report, there are 4 crore migrant workers in India.  During the current lockdown situation, 75 lakh employees (35 lakh by trains + 40 lakh by buses) have returned home so far.

 These migrant workers travel from UP, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Punjab etc. every year in search of better employment.  These migrants have a long history of migrating to different parts of the country in search of jobs or livelihoods.

 Therefore, the Government of India has started an ambitious project 'One Nation, One Ration Card' for these migrant workers.  Now we know in detail about 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme.

 What is 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme

 Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had earlier implemented the pilot project of 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme in four states in the year 2019.  From 01 January 2020, One Nation, One Ration Card Scheme was implemented in 12 states across India.  Contains;  Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tripura, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh.

 Under this scheme, laborers living below the poverty line in the country will be able to get cheaper rice and grains from ration shops with the help of ration cards in any state of the country.

 Earlier it used to be that if a Bihar laborer was working in Punjab, he could not get cheap food grains, because his ration card belonged to the Bihar government, but now this problem will get rid of.

 Under this scheme, a ration card will be valid in all the states, but for this a ration card of a standard format will have to be made for all states.

 One Nation, One Ration Card Scheme 'Objectives: - The basic objective of this scheme is to provide adequate food grains to the poor sections of the country at very low rates.  With the implementation of this plan, the cost of purchasing food grains of the migrant workers of the country will be reduced.

 Know full information about One Nation, One Ration Card 'scheme;

 1. No need to get a new ration card: There is no need to get a new ration card to avail this PDS scheme.  Under this scheme, all previous ration card holders across the country will be able to get cheaper grain from the shops of Public Distribution System in any corner of the country.  However, any new cards generated will be in standard format.

 2. Language in One Nation One Ration Card: - Currently, ration cards of Indian states are in different format and language but now all states will follow a standard format.  State Governments have been requested to issue ration cards in a bi-lingual format in which English or Hindi can be a language other than the local language.

 3. Standard Digit in Ration Card: - The new format ration card will have a standard 10 digit ration card number.  The first two digits of the ration card will be the state code and the next two digits will be the number of the currently running ration card.  Whereas the next two numbers of the ration card will tell the unique member ID of each beneficiary.

 4. Any Indian can apply: - Any legal citizen of India can apply for this ration card. Keep in mind that children below 18 years of age will be added to their parents' ration card.

 5. Grain at the cheapest rate: - Under this scheme, every BPL family gets 35 kg on fixed price every month.  Food grains in western districts - (20 kg rice and 15 kg wheat), in eastern districts - (25 kg rice and 10 kg wheat).

  Benefits of One Nation, One Ration Card Scheme: -

 1. This scheme will ensure availability of adequate food grains to the poor workers who migrate from their home district.

 2. It will reduce black marketing at PDS shops.  Currently, PDS shop owners sell these food grains in the market in the absence of actual beneficiaries.

 3. It will reduce the incidence of starvation deaths in the country which will further improve the Indian rank in the Global Hunger Index rankings.

 4. Due to stop migration from villages, slum problem will be reduced in cities and burden on urban resources will be reduced.