The government has further strengthened the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme, enabling ration card holders to obtain their subsidised food grains, including wheat and rice, from any fair price shop across the country rather than being limited to a designated outlet.
The initiative is aimed at making the Public Distribution System (PDS) more accessible and convenient, particularly for migrant workers and beneficiaries who frequently relocate for employment or other reasons. Under the enhanced system, eligible individuals can access their ration entitlements from any participating fair price shop, regardless of where their ration card was originally registered.
Previously, beneficiaries were required to collect ration from a specific shop assigned to them, often facing issues such as long queues, stock shortages and technical glitches in biometric authentication systems. The revamped ONORC framework offers greater flexibility, allowing beneficiaries to choose alternative ration shops based on convenience and availability.
The scheme operates through Aadhaar-based biometric verification, ensuring that food grain benefits are delivered to the rightful beneficiaries while minimising duplication and fraudulent claims. Officials say the system will strengthen transparency and accountability in the PDS network while reducing leakages in food grain distribution.
The portability feature has emerged as a major relief for migrant workers, who can now continue receiving subsidised food grains even after moving to another district or state, without having to transfer their ration card or complete fresh registration formalities.
Government officials believe the strengthened ONORC system marks an important step towards modernising welfare delivery by making food security benefits more efficient, transparent and portable, ensuring that eligible citizens can access their entitlements anywhere in the country.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com