Integration to ensure access to welfare schemes; officials stress timely completion and uninterrupted ration supply
Srinagar: Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) J&K, Arvind Karwani, on Wednesday, reviewed the process of integrating ration cards of nearly 50,000 Kashmiri and Jammu migrant families into the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database.
The meeting also assessed arrangements for distributing free rations to relief category cardholders under the Special Relief Ration Scheme notified earlier this year, along with extending social sector benefits to migrant beneficiaries.
Officials said the digitisation and integration of ration cards will enable these families to seamlessly access welfare schemes such as old-age pensions, scholarships and marriage assistance.
It was noted that the integration exercise has formally begun following the launch of a new Public Distribution System (PDS) portal by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
The meeting was informed that issues faced by migrants in availing benefits under the Ayushman Bharat scheme have been addressed after their inclusion in the NFSA framework.
Karwani directed officials to complete the integration within a set timeline while ensuring uninterrupted ration supply to beneficiaries. He said the existing ration scale under the relief category will continue without disruption, regardless of changes such as inclusion, deletion or correction of ration cards.
He also called for door-to-door verification drives, timely correction of errors in ration cards, and regular outreach camps to assist beneficiaries. Senior officers were asked to closely monitor progress daily across all camps and zones.
