Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Monday said that after Odisha, Sikkim, and Mizoram joining the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ scheme, 20 states are now linked to IMPDS (Integrated Management of Public Distribution System). The Food Ministry aims to implement this facility across the country by March 2021.
After the implementation of the scheme across the country by March 31, 2021, any beneficiary of the Public Distribution System (PDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) can avail of ration anywhere in the country. Under the NFSA, nearly 81 crore people in the country are provided foodgrains at a cheaper rate.
They are provided wheat at Rs 2 a kg and rice at Rs 3 a kg. In the ongoing corona pandemic, the Central government gives five kg rice or wheat and one kg pulses per month free to every PDS beneficiary. This will continue for three months since its inception in April under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
Besides, the Central government is also giving five kg foodgrains and one kg grams free for two months to the migrant labourers who are not beneficiaries of any other grain distribution scheme.
The minister requested all these states to commence the national/ inter-state portability transactions in June 2020, adding “This would also enable the beneficiaries of these states anywhere in the national cluster of states/UTs to access their quota of foodgrains through national portability with immediate effect.”
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