Government launches ‘mera ration’ mobile app under ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ programme

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 12

The government on Friday launched “mera ration” mobile app under “One Nation One Ration Card” programme that aims at nationwide portability of ration cards under National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Currently the ONORC covers 32 states and UTs. The integration of remaining four states, West Bengal, Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Assam, is expected to be completed in next few months, said Sudhanshu Pandey, Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution.

Pandey said the app will especially benefit those ration card holders who move to new areas for livelihoods.

“The system which was started initially in four states in August 2019 has been swiftly rolled out in 32 states and UTs by December 2020,” he said.

Currently it covers nearly 69 crore NFSA beneficiaries (about 86% NFSA population) in the country and a monthly average of about 1.5-1.6 crore portability transactions are being recorded under ONORC.

It has proved value-added service to each NFSA beneficiary during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly migrants, which allowed them to avail the benefit of subsidised foodgrains with flexibility from any location wherever they were during the lockdown and crisis period.

During the period April 2020 to February 2021, a total of about 15.4 crore portability transactions have been recorded under ONORC. With regards to reaching out to migrant NFSA beneficiaries, he said that the department is collaborating with other ministries and departments.

“The system allows all NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either full or part foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country through existing ration card with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner. The system also allows their family members back home, if any, to claim the balance foodgrains on the same the ration card,” he said.