Himachal can borrow additional Rs 800 cr

Subhash Rajta

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 19

Himachal Pradesh has become eligible to borrow additional 0.25 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in 2020-21, thanks to the roll out of the One Nation One Ration Card plan recently. “We have made the plan operational before the deadline and hence become eligible for the incentive. Now, the Finance Department can borrow 0.25 per cent of the GSDP, around Rs 800 crore,” said Abid Hussain, Director of the state Department of Food and Civil Supplies. “With revenue taking a hit because of Covid, the facility of additional borrowing will come handy for the state”.

Moreover, the public distribution system (PDS) beneficiaries can now get ration at fair price shops anywhere in the country. Earlier, the department faced many technical hurdles. “The roll out needed seamless synchronisation of the Aadhaar server where the identity of the beneficiary is authenticated, and the server of the Food Ministry where the ration card data is available. We faced some technical hurdles but eventually we managed to get it right,” said Hussain.

The Director added that now the beneficiary and his family could divide their entitled ration if they are living at different places. “An individual can take a part of his quota at one place, and his family can take the remaining amount elsewhere. Also, a beneficiary need not take his quota of ration in one go, if he so desires,” said Hussain.

In another benefit for the beneficiaries, the department has put the stock at fair price shops online. “Now, a beneficiary can track commodities online, and need not visit a fair price shop to check their availability,” he added.

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