Presently, approximately 99.8% of ration cards across the country have been linked with Aadhaar, a crucial step towards effectively targeting beneficiaries in the Public Distribution System (PDS). The nationwide implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan has been successfully carried out by all 36 States/Union Territories. Since its inception, the ONORC plan has facilitated approximately 124 Crore portability transactions, encompassing both inter-State and intra-State movements. This initiative has secured the food security of approximately 80 Crore beneficiaries nationwide, particularly benefiting migrant laborers and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who frequently change their place of residence in pursuit of temporary employment.
Under the ONORC plan, beneficiaries possess the authority to collect their entitled food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice across the country, utilizing their existing ration card or Aadhaar card for biometric authentication on an electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) device. This system also permits family members of migrant beneficiaries residing in their village or hometown to obtain their share of food grains from the same ration card. Additionally, ONORC allows migrant beneficiaries and their families to opt for any FPS without being confined to visiting only the tagged FPS on their ration cards, providing a level of flexibility unprecedented in the traditional PDS system.
With Aadhaar seeding and the deployment of ePoS devices at FPSs, approximately 97% of transactions in the country are currently conducted transparently through biometric authentication on a monthly basis. The Department has extended the deadline for States/UTs to complete Aadhaar seeding of ration cards until 31st March 2024. During this period, States/UTs have been advised not to delete any genuine beneficiary/household from the list of eligible ration cards/beneficiaries. Additionally, no beneficiary shall be denied their entitled food grain quota under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) solely due to the absence of an Aadhaar number or biometric authentication issues caused by technical or connectivity problems.
Until beneficiaries are assigned an Aadhaar number, they can use any of eight identification documents for identification purposes, including Voter ID Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, Certificate of Identity with a photo issued by Gazetted Officer/Tahsildar on official letterhead, Address card issued by the Department of Posts, Kisan Photo Passbook, or any other document specified by State/UT Governments.
This information was shared by Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written response in the Lok Sabha.