One Nation-One Ration Card In 20 States From June 1, Says Paswan

Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan offered much food for thought for participants at the BusinessLine Agri Summit.

- Shishir Sinha/Twesh Mishra

In his valedictory address, Paswan said that his Ministry aims to roll out ‘One Nation-One Card’ with 20 States on board from June 1.

This move is intended to enable the right beneficiaries get their entitlement of subsidised foodgrains even if they are not in their home State/Union Territory. Paswan said 12 States are already on board. These include Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana and Tripura. “We expect big States such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to join by March,” he said.

Wrapping up the two-day Summit, which was sponsored by NAFED, Godrej Agrovet and Bayer among others, Paswan said that 19 States and Union Territories already allow ration card portability within their own region.