The ONORC scheme aims to provide subsidized grains, rice, and wheat flour to economically**** weaker sections of the nation, including migrant workers and their families. It was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure food security for people experiencing poverty. All states and Union Territories in the country have adopted this scheme, with 20 states already implementing it.

The primary goal of the ONORC is to make the Public Distribution System (PDS) more efficient and accessible for the migrating population of India. The scheme allows food entitlements to be portable across regions, ensuring that beneficiaries can receive their entitled foodgrains even when they move from one place to another for employment or other reasons.

The ONORC scheme has some major characteristics:

• Information Technology-Driven: The ONORC scheme is based on technology and is implemented by the Central Government. It aims to make ration cards portable nationwide under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013.
• Beneficiaries and Card Holders: The scheme is open to all beneficiaries and cardholders registered under the NFSA, focusing on migrant beneficiaries.
• Accessing Subsidized Food Grains: With the ONORC scheme, beneficiaries can claim the full or a portion of sponsored food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country. They can use their existing ration cards and authenticate their identity through Biometric authentication.
• Aadhaar Biometric Authentication: Beneficiaries can be identified using fingerprints or irises through the Aadhaar identification process.
• Benefit for Family Members: The ONORC scheme also benefits the family members of migrant beneficiaries. They can claim their entitled share on the same ration card if they are back home and eligible for subsidized grains.
• Mobile App: To make the ONORC scheme more accessible, the government launched a mobile application called Mera Ration in May 2021. This app helps beneficiaries access their entitlements and manage their ration cards efficiently.

Mera Ration’ Mobile App

The government, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre**** (NIC), has introduced a mobile application called "MERA RATION" to empower NFSA, especially migrant beneficiaries, and assist them in making the most of the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) program. The app offers various features that can be accessed easily using either the Ration Card or the Aadhaar number.

The Mera Ration app is available in 10 languages, including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Odiya, Punjabi, Telugu, Gujarati, Kannada, Tamil, and Marathi. It can be easily downloaded from the Google Play Store. The app may also be expanded to include more regional languages and additional features, making it even more useful for migrant NFSA beneficiaries.

Objectives

The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) has the following goals:

1. Improving the Public Distribution System: The ONORC aims to bring positive changes and reforms to the public distribution system in the country.
2. Integrating all States and UTs: By March, the scheme will include all Indian states and Union Territories, making it a unified and nationwide initiative.
3. Empowering NFSA Beneficiaries: The primary objective is to empower all NFSA beneficiaries to be self-reliant for their food security, regardless of their location in the country. 
4. Easy Access to Subsidized Food: Beneficiaries can easily collect their entitled funded food grains, in full or in part, from any Fair Price Shop of their choice.
5. Facilitating Family Members: The ONORC scheme also enables family members to collect the remaining or required amount of food grains using the same ration card, whether in their hometown or elsewhere.
6. Beneficiary-Centric Program: The scheme prioritizes the well-being of beneficiaries by offering an inter-state ration card portability system, removing geographical barriers, and ensuring that people can access food grains wherever they are.
7. Targeting NFSA Beneficiaries: The ONORC specifically targets beneficiaries registered under the National Food Security Act and ensures they receive the benefits of this program, regardless of their location.

The One Nation, One Ration Card scheme empowers people to easily access their entitled food grains, regardless of where they are in the country. 

Benefits

The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme brings various advantages to people, especially migrant workers and their families. Let us look at some of the major benefits of this scheme:

Simple Access to Food Grains:

• Beneficiaries can use their existing ration cards with biometric or Aadhaar authentication to receive subsidized food grains.

Empowering Migrants:

• Migrant workers in different parts of the country can access subsidized food grains from any FPS, providing crucial support in unfamiliar locations.
• Families back home can also claim the remaining food grains on the same ration card, ensuring they don't miss out on their entitlements.

Uniformity in Ration Distribution:

• This eliminates the need for different ration cards for different regions, providing consistency and equality.

Flexibility and Convenience:

• Beneficiaries can immediately switch to an alternative FPS in case of any issues or discrepancies, giving them more control over their food distribution.
• The scheme allows individuals to choose their preferred FPS, making the process more user-friendly.

Promoting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion:

• The ONORC scheme benefits women and other marginalized sections of society, as social identity plays a significant role in accessing the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• It empowers these vulnerable groups to assert their rights and receive their entitled food grains.

Hunger Eradication and Global Recognition:

• ONORC contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending hunger by 2030, addressing the critical issue of hunger in India.
• The scheme's potential impact on reducing hunger has earned recognition globally, bringing attention to India's efforts in food security.
• Enhanced Efficiency and Reduced Leakages:
• The technology-driven ONORC system prevents the leakage of public food from FPS, reducing corruption and ensuring more efficient distribution.
• Elimination of duplicate and fake ration cards improves the accuracy of targeting beneficiaries.

Nationwide Coverage and Scale:

• The scheme aims to cover all beneficiaries in all states and Union Territories by 2021, making it a comprehensive and inclusive initiative.
• About 45 crore internal migrants will profit from the ONORC scheme, making it one of the largest programs in the country.

Features

The scheme has several key features that aim to provide beneficiaries with easy access to supported food grains nationwide. Let's explore these features in simple terms:

1. Wide Coverage: The ONORC plan is operational in 35 states/UTs, serving approximately 77 Crore beneficiaries, nearly 96.8% of the country's total National Food Security Act (NFSA) population.
2. Access to Nearby Fair Price Shops: Beneficiaries with ration cards can now choose to access the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and their entitled foodgrains from any nearby Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country.
3. Technology-Driven Platform: The Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) portal is the technological platform for interstate ration card portability. 
4. ePoS Devices for Ration Card Portability: An IT-driven system is in place to achieve ration card portability. Each Fair Price Shop (FPS) has electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) devices to facilitate the process.
5. Eliminating Location Restrictions: Before ONORC was implemented, beneficiaries could only receive subsidized food grains from the designated FPS in their area. Now, they can access their rations from any FPS in the country.
6. Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS): ONORC is being implemented under the Integrated Management of PDS, which streamlines the distribution system and ensures efficient delivery of food grains to beneficiaries.
7. Extensive Beneficiary Coverage: Around 65 crores of beneficiaries are covered under the ONORC scheme, ensuring a vast reach and impact.
8. Significant Progress: 80 percent of beneficiaries registered under NFSA have been covered under the scheme, and 25 states and UTs have been integrated into the system.
9. Expanding Coverage: Once all states/UTs are integrated under the ONORC scheme, approximately 81 crores of beneficiaries will receive the benefits of this initiative, ensuring a massive nationwide impact.
10. Helpline Assistance: The government will establish a helpline number to assist beneficiaries, providing them with support and guidance related to the ONORC scheme.

Implementation

The One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) system allows people to access subsidized food grains across the country, no matter where they move. Here are some simple explanations about its implementation:

• Starting Point: The implementation of ONORC began in August 2019 to solve the challenge of food portability in our country, where many people are migrant workers or lead nomadic lifestyles.
• Revolutionary Step: The One Nation One Ration Card policy is a groundbreaking initiative by the government to make ration cards portable nationwide.
• IT-Driven System: The implementation involves using ePOS (electronic point of sale) devices at Fair Price Shops (FPSs), linking ration cards with Aadhar numbers, and using biometric authentication for transactions.
• Easy Access: Beneficiaries can use their ration card or Aadhar number at any Fair Price Shop nationwide to get subsidized food grains. Family members can also pick up the ration if they have linked their Aadhar with the ration card and do not need physical cards.
• Nationwide Coverage: With Assam joining, all 36 states and Union Territories have implemented the One Nation One Ration Card scheme.
• Highly Subsidized Food Grains: The plan ensures the distribution of highly subsidized food grains nationwide by using an IT-driven system and ePOS devices at FPSs.
• No Physical Cards Needed: Beneficiaries don't have to carry their ration or Aadhar cards to the shop. They can be identified through fingerprints or iris scanning.
• Simple Process: People can quote their ration card or Aadhar number at any FPS to get their entitled food grains. Aadhar authentication can be done using fingerprints or iris identification.
• Nationwide Portability: The ONORC started with inter-state portability in four states in August 2019 and has now been implemented in 35 states and UTs.

ONORC is a game-changing initiative that makes it easy for people to access subsidized food grains anywhere in the country. With the use of technology and biometric authentication, it ensures an easy and simple process for beneficiaries to get their entitled ration from any Fair Price Shop.

Challenges

The ONORC scheme has many benefits but faces challenges during its implementation. Let's discuss these challenges in simple terms:

1. Exclusion Error: Even though Aadhaar-linked ration cards and smart cards have been introduced to reduce leakages, there have been cases of exclusion errors. Some people still don't have Aadhaar cards and may miss out on food security benefits.
2. Supplies Disruption at FPS: Fair Price Shops (FPS) receive a monthly quota of food grains based on the number of people they serve. The ONORC scheme might disrupt this system, as some FPS may have to handle more ration cards than others, leading to chaos.
3. Technical Errors: The ONORC scheme involves digitization, but there can be technical limitations in India. However, most of these problems occur in the initial stages, and they can be resolved with careful sorting.
4. Different State Procedures: Each state has its procedures and entitlements for beneficiaries. Harmonizing these procedures across different states can be challenging.
5. Aadhaar Linkage: To make ONORC successful, 100% of ration cards need to be linked to Aadhaar numbers, but some cards are still not linked.
6. Low Internet Penetration: India's low internet penetration rate can affect the reliable functioning of the ONORC scheme.
7. Insufficient ePoS Devices: There is a lack of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices in Fair Price Shops. Each FPS should have an ePoS device for the scheme to work effectively.
8. Fingerprinting Problems: Some people may face fingerprinting issues due to genetics or frequent wear and tear, which can affect authentication.
9. Lack of Data: There is a shortage of data on migrant populations, making it difficult to identify beneficiaries as they move to different locations.
10. Impact on Food Grain Procurement: Frequent migration may disturb the pattern of food grain procurement in states.

Despite these challenges, the ONORC scheme continuously works to overcome them and ensure that subsidized food grains reach all beneficiaries nationwide, regardless of location. By addressing these issues, the government aims to make ONORC a successful and efficient initiative for food security.

ONORC's Future Progress

The ONORC method can be further expanded to ensure food security for all. To make progress with ONORC, we can explore alternate delivery channels to provide food grains to vulnerable groups during emergencies. Additionally, ONORC should be broadened to include other essential services like Integrated Child Development Services, Mid-Day Meals, healthcare, and immunization.

To enhance the efficiency and security of the system, we can consider replacing the traditional PDS with a fool-proof food coupon system or direct benefit transfer, allowing Below Poverty Line families to buy essential items at market prices. Ensuring internet connectivity at every Fair Price Shop is crucial to ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme. The central government should also provide adequate food quotas to states to meet the food security needs of their populations.

To streamline the process, an AI-based platform can be developed to predict and issue cards to migrants effectively. Moreover, adopting a food coupon system or direct benefit transfer aligns with World Trade Organization rules in the long run.

The ONORC scheme has made significant progress, reaching approximately 65 crore beneficiaries in 24 States/UTs by August 2020. Efforts were made to expand to the remaining 12 States/UTs by March 2021. As of the Union Budget announcement in 2021, 32 States and UTs were implementing ONORC, benefiting around 69 crore beneficiaries and covering 86% of the total beneficiaries. The remaining four States/UTs are expected to join the scheme soon, further advancing its impact on food security in the country.

Present Impacts & Achievements

Implementing the One Nation One Ration Card scheme has significantly improved the distribution of food grains to beneficiaries through modernization and increased transparency. Around 75% to 80% of monthly allocated food grains are efficiently distributed to beneficiaries using biometric and Aadhaar authentication.

A notable achievement of ONORC is its indigenous development with technical support from the National Informatics Centre (NIC), showcasing the nation's capability to create citizen-centric initiatives. Moreover, the scheme's cost-effective implementation, with just Rs. 127 Crore investment, has positively impacted approximately 81 Crore NFSA beneficiaries across all States/UTs.

ONORC has been swiftly rolled out in 32 States/UTs since its sanction in 2018-19, integrating almost 86% of the NFSA population into the seamless portability platform. This empowers beneficiaries to access food security anywhere in the country, making them self-reliant (AtmaNirbhar) in providing food.

The ONORC plan has brought about remarkable progress in enhancing the distribution of food grains with modernization, transparency, and efficiency. Its cost-effectiveness, rapid implementation, and empowering nature have resulted in consistent food security for a significant portion of the population.

List of states implementing the ONORC scheme

As of the latest available information, the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme has been implemented in the following states**** and Union Territories in India:

1. Andhra Pradesh - August 2020
2. Arunachal Pradesh - February 2021
3. Assam - January 2021
4. Bihar - August 2020
5. Chhattisgarh - May 2020
6. Dadra and Nagar Haveli - February 2021
7. Goa - January 2021
8. Gujarat - August 2020
9. Haryana - September 2020
10. Himachal Pradesh - January 2021
11. Jharkhand - August 2020
12. Karnataka - September 2020
13. Kerala - October 2020
14. Ladakh - August 2020
15. Lakshadweep - September 2020
16. Madhya Pradesh - January 2021
17. Maharashtra - December 2020
18. Manipur - February 2021
19. Mizoram - February 2021
20. Nagaland - February 2021
21. Odisha - February 2021
22. Puducherry - October 2020
23. Punjab - October 2020
24. Rajasthan - September 2020
25. Sikkim - January 2021
26. Tamil Nadu - January 2021
27. Telangana - September 2020
28. Tripura - January 2021
29. Uttar Pradesh - January 2021
30. Uttarakhand - October 2020
31. West Bengal - August 2020

Conclusion

One Nation One Ration Card scheme has emerged as a transformative initiative to address the challenges faced by migrant beneficiaries in accessing subsidized food grains. By enabling nationwide portability of ration cards, the scheme has significantly positive impacts on India's public distribution system (PDS).

The ONORC has empowered migrant workers and their families to access food security benefits from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) nationwide, regardless of origin. This has provided them with the much-needed flexibility and convenience in times of movement and relocation for work.

Furthermore, the scheme has successfully reduced leakages and corruption in the distribution process by employing Aadhaar-linked biometric authentication, ensuring that food grains reach the intended beneficiaries without any diversion.

The fully indigenous development of ONORC, with minimal financial outlay, showcases the government's commitment to citizen-centric initiatives and efficient governance. By integrating 32 states and Union Territories swiftly, the scheme has already covered approximately 86% of the NFSA population, making it a remarkable achievement in a short time.

The ONORC scheme stands as a shining example of how technology-driven reforms can enhance the lives of millions, ensuring food security and empowering citizens across the nation. However, efforts should continue to overcome challenges and improve the scheme's implementation to reach every eligible beneficiary and make the One Nation One Ration Card vision a reality for all.