One Nation One Ration Card: An Overview of India’s Universal Food Security Scheme
Introduction
Food security has been a pressing concern for India, a country where a significant percentage of the population struggles to access sufficient and nutritious food. The ration card system, introduced in the 1940s, aimed to address this issue by providing subsidized food grains to those in need. However, the system has been plagued by challenges such as inadequate coverage, duplicate and fake ration cards, and inefficiencies in the distribution system. To address these challenges, the government of India introduced the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme in 2019, with the aim of providing seamless access to food grains across the country.
The Need for One Nation One Ration Card The current ration card system faces several challenges that make it difficult to ensure food security for all. Firstly, the coverage of the ration card system is inadequate, with several eligible households not having access to a ration card.
Secondly, there are several instances of duplicate and fake ration cards, leading to leakages and corruption. Lastly, the distribution system is inefficient, leading to delays and irregularities in the delivery of food grains. These challenges create significant hurdles in ensuring food security for all.
The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) is a universal food security scheme introduced by the Government of India in 2019 to ensure seamless distribution of food grains to eligible beneficiaries across the country.
The scheme aims to provide flexibility to beneficiaries by allowing them to access their entitlements from any fair price shop (FPS) in the country through an electronic system. In this article, we will discuss the scheme’s evolution, implementation, and impact on India’s food security.
Evolution of Food Security in India
India’s food security system has a long history, dating back to the pre-Independence era when the government introduced the Grain Purchase Scheme. The Green Revolution and the establishment of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the 1960s marked a significant milestone in India’s food security efforts.
In 2013, the National Food Security Act (NFSA) was enacted, which aimed to provide subsidized food grains to two-thirds of the country’s population.
The ONORC scheme builds on the NFSA and aims to address some of its limitations, such as the lack of portability of ration cards across states. Under the scheme, eligible beneficiaries can access their food grains entitlements through an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device at any FPS across the country.
How does the One Nation One Ration Card work?
To avail of the benefits of the scheme, eligible beneficiaries need to link their Aadhaar number with their ration card and have their biometric authentication done at the FPS. Once the authentication is successful, the ePoS device will show the quantity of food grains due to the beneficiary, and the FPS dealer will issue the food grains to them.
The scheme has several benefits, such as eliminating the need for beneficiaries to obtain new ration cards when migrating from one state to another, reducing corruption and leakages in the PDS system, and providing greater choice and convenience to beneficiaries.
However, implementation of the scheme has faced several challenges, such as inadequate ePoS devices, network connectivity issues, and technical glitches.
Implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card
The implementation of the ONORC scheme is being done in a phased manner across states. As of March 2021, 32 states and Union Territories (UTs) have integrated their ration cards with the ePoS system. Some states, such as Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, have reported a reduction in leakages and corruption in the PDS system due to the implementation of the scheme.
The Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card The implementation of ONORC has been progressing steadily since its launch in 2019. As of February 2022, the scheme has been implemented in 34 states and union territories, covering more than 80% of the eligible beneficiaries. PM Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan – PM – AASHA
The implementation of the scheme has been facilitated by the use of technology, such as Aadhaar authentication and point-of-sale machines at FPS. These measures have helped to eliminate duplicate and fake ration cards and ensure better targeting of beneficiaries.
However, challenges such as technical glitches and resistance from some states have slowed down the implementation process.
some states, such as Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, have raised concerns about the scheme’s implementation and its impact on the existing system. They argue that the scheme could lead to the exclusion of some beneficiaries due to technical issues, and that the lack of adequate ePoS devices could hamper the scheme’s effectiveness.
Despite these challenges, the ONORC scheme has the potential to significantly improve food security in India, especially in times of crisis.
Success Stories of One Nation One Ration Card
Several states have successfully implemented ONORC and have witnessed its benefits. For example, Jharkhand has implemented the scheme in all its districts and has seen a significant reduction in leakages and improved targeting of beneficiaries.
Similarly, Maharashtra has witnessed an increase in the coverage of the scheme and has reported a reduction in the number of ineligible beneficiaries availing subsidized food grains. These success stories highlight the potential of ONORC in improving the food security system of the country.
One Nation One Ration Card and the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for a robust food security system in India. The government’s decision to provide free food grains to beneficiaries under the NFSA during the pandemic has provided relief to millions of households.
The ONORC scheme has played a crucial role in ensuring the seamless distribution of food grains during the pandemic. The scheme has helped migrant workers access their food entitlements in states other than their native state and has provided greater choice and convenience to beneficiaries.
Criticism and Debate
The ONORC scheme has faced criticism from some quarters, with some arguing that the scheme could lead to the exclusion of some beneficiaries due to technical issues. There are also concerns that the scheme could lead to the closure of small FPSs, leading to the loss of livelihoods for small traders.
Criticisms and Limitations of One Nation One Ration Card While ONORC has the potential to revolutionize the food security system, it has also faced criticism and limitations. Some experts have raised concerns about the exclusion of certain vulnerable groups, such as homeless and migrant workers who do not have a permanent address.
Others have raised concerns about the potential for the scheme to disrupt local food and grain markets and impact the livelihoods of small-scale vendors. To address these limitations, the government needs to ensure that the scheme is implemented in a way that is inclusive and does not disrupt the local economy.
However, proponents of the scheme argue that these concerns are misplaced and that the scheme’s benefits outweigh the challenges. They point out that the scheme’s implementation has led to a reduction in leakages and corruption in the PDS system and provided greater choice and convenience to beneficiaries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the One Nation One Ration Card is a significant step towards ensuring universal food security in India. The scheme’s implementation has faced challenges, but it has the potential to significantly improve the PDS system’s effectiveness and reduce leakages and corruption.
The scheme’s success will depend on the government’s commitment to addressing the challenges and ensuring the seamless implementation of the scheme.
The ONORC scheme has the potential to transform the food security landscape in India by enabling seamless access to food grains across the country. While implementation of the scheme has faced challenges, the progress made so far has been significant.
The success stories from states that have implemented the scheme highlight the potential benefits of ONORC. However, the government needs to address the criticisms and limitations of the scheme to ensure that it is inclusive and sustainable in the long run.
FAQs
- Who is eligible for the One Nation One Ration Card scheme?
Any person with a valid ration card can avail of the benefits of the scheme.
- How does the ePoS device work?
The ePoS device displays the quantity of food grains due to the beneficiary after biometric authentication, and the FPS dealer issues the food grains to the beneficiary.
- What are the benefits of the One Nation One Ration Card scheme?
The scheme provides greater choice and convenience to beneficiaries; Eliminates the need for new ration cards when migrating to a new state, and reduces corruption and leakages in the PDS system.
- What are the challenges faced by the implementation of the scheme?
The challenges include inadequate ePoS devices, network connectivity issues, and technical glitches.
- How has the ONORC scheme helped during the pandemic?
The scheme has helped migrant workers access their food entitlements in states other than their native states and has provided relief to millions of households.
- How does the ONORC scheme reduce leakages and corruption in the ration card system?
The use of technology such as Aadhaar authentication and point-of-sale machines at FPS helps to eliminate duplicate and fake ration cards.
- Will the ONORC scheme disrupt the local food grain market and impact the livelihoods of small-scale vendors?
There are concerns about the potential of the scheme to disrupt the local food grain market. However, the government needs to ensure that the scheme is implemented in a way that is inclusive and does not impact the livelihoods of small-scale vendors.
- How can the government ensure that the ONORC scheme is inclusive?
The government needs to ensure that the scheme is implemented in a way that is inclusive of all vulnerable groups, such as homeless and migrant workers.
- What is the future of food security in India?
The ONORC scheme has the potential to significantly improve the food security system in India. However, collective efforts are needed to ensure that the scheme is successfully implemented and sustainable in the long run.