One Nation One Ration Card

Why in NEWS? 

 As part of the Economic relief package amid

COVID 19 outbreak, the Central government 

has announced the national rollout of a 

"One Nation One Ration Card" system in 

all states & Union Territories by March 2021.

About One Nation, One Ration Card Scheme-  

• Under this ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ system, beneficiary will be able to buy subsidized food grains from any FPS across Country using their existing/same ration card that is Aadhaar linked.
• Under present Public Distribution System (PDS), a ration cardholder can buy food grains only from Fair Price Shop (FPS) that has been assigned in the locality in which he/she lives. 
• To address the grim state of food security in the country & combat the problem of hunger, the government has started the “One Nation One Ration Card” facility. 
• Currently, this scheme is applicable in several states & the central government seeks to implement this across the nation by June 2020.

Associates Challenges-

Technological glitches

• Aadhaar authentication- Around 85.41% of ration cards have been linked to Aadhaar up until August 2019, still leaving out a significant number.

• e-PoS machines- As per data on the Annavitran portal, out of total 79,050, only 37,392 FPS have e-PoS machines as of January 2020. This is further low in states like Bihar and West Bengal, with some of highest out-migration rates in India.

• Internet connectivity and reliability - Internet penetration remains low in India, especially in rural India.

Poor quality of rural electrification- Running E-PoS machine under new scheme requires a steady source of electrical power. Survey by Ministry of Rural Development in 2017 indicates that only half of all villages get more than 12 hours of power supply, with power failures being rampant.

Logistical Issues- An FPS receives the monthly quota of products strictly in accordance with the number of people assigned to it.

The ONORC, when fully operational, would disrupt this practice, as some FPSs may have to cater to more numbers of cards even as other cater to less, owing to migration of people.

Centre state relations- Efforts to align different state implementation policies on food security may be seen an encroachment on state subjects. This might create room for mistrust between Central and state governments and require engagement based on principles of cooperative federalism.

Benefits-

1. Empowering Consumers: - ONORC will also give the beneficiaries the opportunity to opt for the dealer of their choice. If any dealer misbehaves or misallocates, the beneficiary can switch to another FPS shop instantly. 
2. Provide intra-state as well as inter-state portability of ration cards benefitting inter/intra state migrants to avail benefits.
3. Helps to remove bogus ration card holders through an integrated online system.
4. It can control rising food subsidy bill by preventing leakages etc. 

Steps to be Taken-  

• The Unorganized Sector Social Security Act, 2008 had drawn up a system of documenting informal sector workers through a system of welfare boards.
• A dedicated e-commerce platform ONORC may resolve the challenges of logistical issues.
• Social auditing must be made mandatory to measure the performance of ONORC.
• In the longer run, the PDS system may be replaced by a fool-proof food coupon system or direct benefit transfer, targeting the poor, wherein a Below Poverty Line family can buy rice, pulses, sugar & oil from any Kirana Store at the market price, by either paying fully through the coupon or by cash.

Conclusion-

The current migrant crisis should be seen as an opportunity to develop a national migration policy addressing the challenges faced by migrant workers productivity, living conditions & social security.