Days after allegedly stopping the Delhi government’s doorstep delivery of ration scheme, the Centre on Tuesday asked the Arvind Kejriwal-led govt to implement the Modi government’s One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme as soon as possible,

The Central govt also asked the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to resume the ePoS devices at all fair price shops in the national capital.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs stated that the Centre on February 18, 2021, had made a request to consider expeditious resumption of electronic Point of Sales (ePoS) devices in all Fair Price Shops (FPS) of Delhi for transparency in the distribution of foodgrains, and to ensure the implementation of One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) at the earliest.

However, progress in this regard is yet to be made, it added.

The Ministry explained that since ONORC is a technology-driven process to enable intra-state and inter-state portability of ration cardholders, it is highly dependent on the availability of ePoS devices at all FPSs.

“The implementation of this noble initiative for migrants has been impeded due to non-functioning of ePoS devices at FPSs. This will help them to avail their entitled foodgrains on subsidised rate and also improve their ease of living,” added the ministry.

It should be noted that the One Nation One Ration Card plan enables the nationwide portability of ration cards under the National Food Security Act.

Through this system, the migrant NFSA beneficiaries are empowered to lift their entitled quota of subsidised foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop of their choice, anywhere in the country, by using their existing ration card.