Recently Assam has operationalized the ration card portability service and with this, the Centre’s ‘One Nation, One Ration Card‘(ONORC) program is implemented across the country, making food security portable throughout the country. The implementation of ONORC was initiated in August 2019.

         Under the ONORC beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) can get their quota of subsidized foodgrains from any electronic point of sale device (ePoS)-enabled fair price shops of their choice by using their existing ration cards with biometric authentication.

Salient Features of NFSA

 The public Distribution System (PDS) is now governed by provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

The Act provides coverage for nearly 2/3rd of the country’s total population, basis Census 2011 population estimates. 75% of the Rural and 50% of the Urban population is entitled to receive highly subsidized foodgrains under two categories of beneficiaries – Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH). The Act entitles 35 kg of foodgrains per AAY Household per month, whereas 5 Kg of foodgrain per PHH Person per month.

Highly subsidized Central Issue Prices of Re.1, Rs.2, and Rs.3 for Coarse-grains, Wheat, and Rice respectively, were kept unchanged till June 2019.

The eldest woman of the beneficiary household (18 years or above) is considered as ‘Head of Family‘ for the purpose of issuing ration cards.