The Indian government is fast-tracking its drive towards a more united nation by implementing the One Nation One Ration Card system. This aims to allow portability of food security benefits across the country. The initiative, which was kickstarted on 1st October 2019, saw the joining of two new clusters – Kerala and Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana.
Inter-State Portability of Ration Cards
The inter-state portability of ration cards means that people from one state can purchase subsidised food from ration shops in a neighbouring state. Prior to the latest additions, pairs of states had already started this process. The paired states include Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, as well as Maharashtra and Gujarat. With the addition of Kerala and Karnataka, and Rajasthan and Haryana, this initiative is now expanding steadily.
A Roadmap for One Nation One Ration Card System
This inter-state collaboration is a clear roadmap for achieving the One Nation One Ration Card system. The government has high hopes for this initiative, with full implementation targeted for June 2020.
| State Pairs | Status |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | Already Part of the Initiative |
| Maharashtra and Gujarat | Already Part of the Initiative |
| Rajasthan and Haryana | Joined Initiative in October 2019 |
| Kerala and Karnataka | Joined Initiative in October 2019 |
Super Cluster of Eight States with Single Grid
By 1st January 2020, the Centre is hoping to merge the eight states in these initial experimental clusters, along with Jharkhand, Punjab, and Tripura, into a single grid. This grid system means that migrants from these 11 states would be able to access their rations guaranteed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in any of the other states within the grid.
Intra-State Portability: A Progress Milestone
The progress made so far can also be seen in the implementation of intra-state portability. Intra-state portability allows NFSA beneficiaries to use their ration cards in any ration shop within their own state, as opposed to being bound by the store where the card was first registered. The aforementioned 11 states have already achieved this milestone, marking significant progression in making the One Nation One Ration Card system a reality. This move signifies increased convenience for the citizens as they can avail food securities without being restricted by geographical boundaries.
