Sanjeev Chopra, the Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) within the Government of India, recently spearheaded an awareness drive workshop in Jammu & Kashmir, emphasizing the significance of the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) initiative. The workshop, which aimed to enlighten beneficiaries about the benefits of ONORC, was held at Udyog Bhawan, Rail Head Complex, Jammu, on November 2, 2023.
The ONORC initiative is a transformative scheme designed to ensure seamless access to ration entitlements across the nation. During the workshop, several dignitaries joined Sanjeev Chopra in addressing the attendees, including Zubair Ahmed (Secretary, Dept of FCS(CA, J&K), Ramesh Kumar (Divisional Commissioner, J&K), Abdul Rashid War (Labour Commissioner, J&K), Rifat Kohli (Director, Dept of FCS&CA, Jammu), and other senior officials. Approximately 120 beneficiaries and Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers attended the event, which was also broadcast live on DFPD's official YouTube page.
Secretary Sanjeev Chopra underscored the motto, ‘Aap jahan, aapka ration waha,’ highlighting the fundamental principle of ONORC. This initiative allows beneficiaries to access their entitled ration from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) of their choice, regardless of their location within the country.
Mr. Chopra also highlighted the remarkable success of the ONORC program, revealing that it records over 2.5 crore transactions nationwide every month. In Jammu & Kashmir alone, 18 lakh transactions have been recorded since the inception of ONORC, underscoring a strong start for the initiative.
Addressing concerns among FPS dealers regarding potential shortages while serving beneficiaries from other regions, he clarified that FPS dealers can easily request additional ration quotas using their Electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) devices. This system ensures a smooth and uninterrupted supply of ration to beneficiaries.
Secretary Chopra also drew attention to other significant initiatives and schemes within the Department, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and the rice fortification initiative. These initiatives collectively aim to achieve food and nutritional security for over 80 crore beneficiaries across the nation.
Furthermore, he reiterated that State Governments now have the option to use funds from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to establish Model FPSs. These model shops will serve as examples of efficiency and modernization, setting a benchmark for other FPSs in the region.
As a culmination to the event, Secretary Sanjeev Chopra distributed bags of fortified rice to the beneficiaries in attendance.
