Free ration to eight crore migrants within 15 days: Ram Vilas Paswan

Ram Vilas Paswan said on Saturday that the Union government will allocate nearly eight lakh metric tonnes (MT) of additional food grains to the States and Union Territories, which would distribute it to eight crore migrant workers and their families within 15 days.

New Delhi: The Union government had issued orders for allocation of nearly eight lakh metric tonnes (MT) of additional food grains to the States and Union Territories, which would distribute it to eight crore migrant workers and their families, Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister within 15 days.

The distribution of free grains was a part of the economic package announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday.

Ram Vilas Paswan said that Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been given the responsibility of providing food grains. Supply of food grains to migrant labourers has been started from May 15.

State governments have to distribute ration under the public distribution system. There is no shortage of food grains in the country. FCI has 671 lakh tonnes of food grains available.

Ram Vilas said, "One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme will be implemented for 23 states. This scheme will be implemented for 67 crore beneficiaries from 23 states. This scheme will cover 83 per cent of the population. By March 2021, this scheme will be implemented in all states. Under 'One Country One Ration Scheme', any person living in the country will have the same ration card and will be able to take ration from anywhere in the country. He will take food grains from any government ration shop at a lower price."

"The government was sensitive to the plight of migrant workers, who have been left without any income since March in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown," he said.

Addressing a press briefing through video conference, he said, “If the number of migrants exceeds the current estimation of eight crores, the Centre is ready to provide additional grains for free supply but the identified person should be genuine which State governments have to validate.”

The allocation of additional grains was done on the basis of 10% of the total number of the beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act in each State or UT. The Centre would bear the entire cost of the distribution, including transportation within the State and dealers’ margin, while the States and UTs would be responsible for the identification of the migrant workers and distribution of grains to them.

Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said Karnataka had started lifting the grain. Madhya Pradesh would do so from May 18, while Kerala had responded to take the grain from godowns.