Will prioritize free food grains to poor and 'One Nation One Ration Card', says MoS Ashwini Choubey

Ashwini Kr Choubey, on Monday, took charge as the Union Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. On the occasion, the Minister spoke to ETV Bharat saying that distribution of free food grains to the impoverished and the immediate implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) would be prioritized.

New Delhi:BJP MP from Bihar's Buxar, Ashwini Choubey who has been handed the responsibility of Minister of State in the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has taken charge of the Ministry today at the Krishi Bhawan. ETV Bharat on the occasion interacted with the Minister, to find out regarding his future plans and further course of action in the Ministry.

"I will fulfill PM Modi's dreams and whatever the expectations of the central government and the public have from me, I will live up to it. During the Corona crisis till November, around 80 crore beneficiaries were provided 5 Kg of food grains (wheat-rice) separately through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) under the National Food Security Scheme (NFSA)," Ashwini Choubey said, adding that PMGKAY has been extended till November. Under this scheme, it will be my first priority to get free food grains to all the poor and needy, he says. It may be noted that under PMGKAY, around 75.08 crore people have been provided free ration in May and 66.11 crore people in the month of June.

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"One Nation One Ration Card Scheme is being implemented in 32 states and union territories, excluding four states and some UTs. However, all state governments are being requested to implement this scheme on an immediate basis. I will soon implement this scheme across the country so that the migrant population living in any state can take their quota of food grains from the government ration shops. Only one ration card will be valid across the country. During the Corona crisis, this scheme has proven to be very effective for the migrant population," MoS Choubey added. It is known that the policy is being run across all states and union territories, except in Delhi, West Bengal, Assam and Chhattisgarh.

Ashwini Kumar Choubey had served as the Union Minister of State for Health for the last four years, and in the recent Modi Cabinet reshuffle, the ministries of many ministers were changed. At present, he has been given the responsibility of the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and additionally has also been made the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Read:Govt going beyond ration card is a welcome move, says agriculture expert

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed that by July 31, 2021, all states and Union Territories must implement the 'One Nation One Ration Card' scheme that allows migrant labourers to get ration benefits from any part of the country, irrespective of the place where their ration card is registered

What is the'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme?

The 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme was launched on a pilot basis in four states in 2019. Its implementation ensures the availability of ration to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes, especially the migrant workers and their families, at any Fair Price Shop across the country. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced plans for a nationwide rollout of the scheme across India by March 2021.