Jammu, May 7 (NVI): Despite strong opposition by the displaced Kashmiri Pandits, the integration of their ration cards with the National Food Security Act (NFSA) has been accelerated by the Jammu and Kashmir government “signficantly”.
In a statement tonight, the government of the Union Territory said more than 19,000 ration cards have already been digitized and another 8,000 currently under process.
The details were shared during a high-level review meeting chaired by Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, Chandraker Bharti to assess implementation of ration distribution under the Special Relief Ration Scheme for migrants.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Saurabh Bhagat, senior police officials, NIC officers and senior functionaries of multiple departments, the spokesman said.
Officials informed the meeting that over 5,200 migrant families have already availed of rations under the Special Relief Ration Scheme, which became operational from April 18, 2026.
The term ‘migrants’ refers to the Kashmiri Pandits and others dislocated from Kashmir Valley because of terrorism and presently living in Jammu region.
The government also assured that those families who could not collect ration in April will receive two months’ free ration covering both April and May.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of strong opposition and protests by displaced Kashmiri Pandits against integration of the ration cards with NFSA, as they have doubts and suspicions regarding the move.
Authorities said the government has amended the Jammu & Kashmir Food Security Rules, 2021 and the Targeted Public Distribution (Control) Order, 2023 to facilitate integration of migrant ration cards into the NFSA database, “ending a decades-long gap that had prevented migrants from accessing several social welfare schemes due to non-digitized records.”
The statement said all relief ration card holders, irrespective of categorization, will continue to receive 11 kilograms of free ration per person every month along with one kilogram of sugar under the existing relief structure.
Non-relief category migrants, including pensioners categorized under NPHH, will continue to receive ration on government-approved subsidized rates as per NFSA norms.
The government further extended the April ration distribution period into May to ensure that no eligible migrant family is deprived of its entitlement during the transition to the digitized system.
During the meeting, directions were issued to officials concerned to proactively reach out to migrant households and ensure ration supply even in cases where e-KYC formalities are still pending or under process, the spokesman said.
“The administration also decided to launch a massive awareness campaign to inform migrant families that integration of ration cards into the NFSA database is aimed at welfare inclusion, transparency, digitization and extending social security benefits while fully protecting all existing relief provisions and entitlements,” he said.
The government warned of strict action against fair price shop dealers failing to distribute free ration as per entitlement and also ordered legal action against “rumour-mongering elements” allegedly attempting to derail the scheme or intimidate migrant beneficiaries.
Special camps will also be organised by the Social Welfare Department and Relief Organisation to help eligible families avail benefits of schemes such as old-age pension, widow pension, disability pension, marriage assistance, Ayushman Bharat and scholarships, the spokesman said.
According to officials, nearly 600 migrant families have already availed benefits of various social sector schemes following integration of their ration cards into the NFSA database.
“The government is fully committed to operationalize the new scheme for all migrants within the shortest possible time. All genuine beneficiaries will continue to receive ration as per entitlement with full protection of existing relief provisions,” Principal Secretary Chandraker Bharti said.
(NVI)
