'ONORC SCHEME' IMPLEMENTED ALL OVER INDIA
Assam has become the 36th State/UT to implement One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC). With this, the ONORC programme has been successfully implemented in all states and Union Territories, making food security portable throughout the country. The government has also rolled out the 'MERA RATION' mobile application to take maximum advantage of the ONORC plan. The mobile app is providing a host of useful real-time information to the beneficiaries and is available in 13 languages. During the last two years of Covid-19 pandemic, ONORC plan has significantly contributed in ensuring subsidized foodgrains to National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries, especially migrant beneficiaries.
WHAT IS 'ONORC' SCHEME?
The ONORC scheme is being implemented under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). This 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 of foodgrains on the same ration card. The implementation of ONORC was initiated in August 2019.
Objectives:
To empower all NFSA beneficiaries to become AtmaNirbhar for their food security anywhere in the country, through portability of their existing ration cards enabling them. To seamlessly lift their entitled subsidized foodgrains (in part or full) from any Fair Price Shop of their choice. To enable family members to lift the balance/required amount of foodgrains on the same ration card at their native/ any place from the FPS of their choice.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ONORC?
Enabling Right to Food: Previously, ration cardholders can avail their entitlement of subsidised food grains under the National Food Security Act, only from the designated Fair price shop (FPS) within the concerned state. However, if a beneficiary were to shift to another state, he/she would need to apply for a new ration card in the second state. Thus, ONORC envisages removing the geographical hindrance to social justice and enabling the right to food.
Supporting One-Third of Population: Nearly, 37% of the population is that of migrant labourers. The scheme is therefore important for anyone who is going to move from one place to the other.
PERFORMANCE OF SCHEME SO FAR
This is one-of-its-kind Citizen Centric initiative in the country, which is swiftly implemented in a short-span of time covering about 80 Crore beneficiaries, after being initiated in August 2019. Since 2019, about 71 crore portable transactions have taken place delivering food grains equivalent to about Rs 40,000 crore in food subsidy through portability. At present, a monthly average of about 3 crore portable transactions are being recorded, delivering the subsidised NFSA and free PMGKAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) foodgrains with flexibility to the beneficiaries.
NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT (NFSA), 2013
- Notified on: 10th September, 2013.
- Objective: To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.
- Coverage: 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Overall, NFSA caters to 67% of the total population.
- Eligibility: Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, according to guidelines by the State government.
Households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
Provisions:
- 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
- The existing AAY household will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month.
- Meal and maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after the child birth.
- Meals for children upto 14 years of age.
- Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
- Setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms at the district and state level.
PRADHAN MANTRI GARIB KALYAN ANNA YOJANA
PMGKAY is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19. It was announced for a three month period (April, May and June), covering 80 crore ration cardholders. It will come to an end on 30th June 2020. The scheme aimed at providing each person who is covered under the National Food Security Act with an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain already provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS). The beneficiaries are also entitled to 1 kg of pulse for free, according to regional preferences.
Performance of the Scheme:
According to the Union Ministry of Food and Public Distribution, a total of 116.02 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of food grains have been lifted under the scheme.
In April, 93% of the food grains were distributed targeting 74.05 crore beneficiaries. In May, the distribution stood at 91% reaching 72.99 crore beneficiaries. In June 2020, 71% of allocated food grains have been distributed to 56.81 crore beneficiaries so far.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 Which of the following has become the 36th State/UT to implement One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) & with this ONORC has been implemented all across India?
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
- Andaman and Nicobar
- None of the above-mentioned
Q.2 Consider the given statements in the reference to the ONORC scheme & state which of the following is/are incorrect?
- The ONORC scheme is being implemented under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
- This 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 cards with biometric/Aadhaar authentication in a seamless manner.
- The implementation of ONORC was initiated in August, 2021: ANSWER
- None of the following
Q.3 Which of the following organizations have released the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2021 in which India is ranked at 71st position?
- Economist Impact & Corteva Agriscience: ANSWER
- Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Q.4 Which of the following countries have topped the Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2021?
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Netherlands
- Ireland: ANSWER
Q.5 Consider the given options & state which of the following is matched incorrectly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals?
- Sustainable Development Goals 2 ------ Achieving Zero Hunger
- Sustainable Development Goals 3 ----- Ensuring Quality Education: ANSWER
- Sustainable Development Goals 6 ----- Clean Water & Sanitation
- None of the above
