NEW DELHI: Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday informed Rajya Sabha that ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme will be implemented by June 1 across the country.
According to ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ scheme, a card-holder can buy his share of foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) anywhere across the country provided the ration card is linked to Aadhaar.
The details of the card-holders have been made online and that point of sale (PoS) machines is being used to distribute ration to the beneficiaries.
Paswan said this facility has been started in 12 states– Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tripura, Goa, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh on the first day of the New Year.
New ration cards
Reacting to a fake news of new ration cards that is doing the rounds on social media in this regard, the Union Minister said that a fake letter had surfaced claiming that a new card under ”One Nation, One Ration Card” scheme would be issued and private vendors had been engaged for the same.
He stressed that the existing card will be accepted across the country to get ration.
“No new ration cards are being made under the One Nation One Ration Card scheme. The existing card will be accepted across the country to get subsidised foodgrain,” he tweeted.
The Press Information Bureau of India (PIB) tweeted:
“#Reality: Old ration cards will remain valid throughout the nation. No new ration cards are being made for the ‘one nation, one ration card’ scheme” PIB Fact Check tweeted.