Govt releases Rs 46.86 cr under ONORC plan for nationwide portability of ration card

During the last three financial years, the government has released a financial assistance of Rs. 46.86 crore under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) plan for nationwide portability of ration cards.

“All beneficiaries under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), particularly migrant beneficiaries, can lift their monthly entitled foodgrains, either in parts or full," the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

“Their family members back home, if any, may also lift the part/balance foodgrains on the same ration card.” she further added.


People can now avail the foodgrains via electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) enabled Fair Price Shop (FPS) by using their existing ration card or Aadhaar number with biometric authentication.

Who all benefited from the ONORC plan?
The beneficiaries are presently enabled in all the 36 States/UTs across the country, covering around 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries in the country.

“An average of nearly 3.5 crore portability transactions are being reported under ONORC every month in the country. So far, a total of 93.31 crore portability transactions have been recorded under the plan” the minister reported.

Government role in the success of ONORC?
Center has launched a nationwide campaign to create awareness among the NFSA beneficiaries about ONORC in different modes. This includes 167 FM and 91 Community Radio stations, displaying audio visual spots at railway stations, banners, posters outdoors and Fair Price Shops (FPSs), bus wraps apart from States/UTs employing their own means for such campaigns.

The department has also carried out the “Mera Ration” App, which is available in 13 languages, and has seen nearly 20 lakh downloads so far.

All about the ONORC
It is a nationwide plan for portability of ration cards, implemented under the Central Sector Scheme i.e. Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) in April 2018 with total outlay of Rs. 127.3 Crore.

Currently, the scheme is extended till 31st March 2023. The financial assistance of Rs. 46.86 Crore has been released to States/UTs, NIC/NICSI, etc. during the last three financial years 2020-21 (Rs.12.65 crore), 2021-22 (Rs.23.76 crore) and 2022-23 (Rs. 10.45 crore).