Punjab has become the 13th State in the country to successfully undertake “One Nation One Ration Card system” reform. The State has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs 1,516 crore rupees through Open Market Borrowings. According to the Ministry of Finance, permission for the same was issued by the Department of Expenditure.
The other 12 States which have completed this reform are Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh.
Till now, 17 States have carried out at least one of the four stipulated reforms and have been granted reform linked borrowing permissions. On completion of One Nation One Ration Card system reform, these 13 states have been granted additional borrowing permission of Rs 34,956 crore by the Department of Expenditure.
Out of these, 13 states have implemented the one nation one ration card system, 12 states have done ease of doing business reforms, 6 states have done local body reforms and 2 states have undertaken power sector reforms.
Total reform linked additional borrowing permission issued so far to the states stands at Rs 76,512 crore.
The implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System ensures availability of ration to beneficiaries under National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes at any Fair Price Shop across the country.
The reform especially empowers the migratory population who frequently change their place of dwelling to be self-reliant in food security. One Nation One Ration Card System is an important citizen-centric reform. Its implementation ensures availability of ration to beneficiaries under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare schemes, especially the migrant workers and their families, at any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country.