Chhattisgarh: 'One nation, one ration card' to be implemented from August

RAIPUR: The Centre is aiming to implement the "one nation, one ration card" scheme fully across the country by March 2021, and Chhattisgarh government, in this regard, has assured the Union consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister Ram Vilas Paswan that the state will implement the "One Nation, One Ration Card" scheme from August itself . As per information, state food minister Amarjeet Bhagat, during his discussion with Ram Vilas Paswan via video conference, said that "one nation, one ration card" will be initiated in Chhattisgarh from the month of August. He also requested union food minister to extend distribution of free-of-cost foodgrains to BPL families from July to September. During the virtual conference, it was informed that presently, migrant labourers are being provided free-of-cost foodgrains for the month of May and June. "Ramvilas Paswan appreciated the transparency in public distribution system of Chhattisgarh state and said that PDS system of Chhattisgarh holds top rank in the country", said government officials. Union food minister informed that the proposals of distributing foodgrains free-of-cost, under pradhan mantri gareeb kalyan yojana, to BPL families for three more months and to migrant labourers in July month are under consideration. Paswan assured of extending every possible support in the context, said food and civil supplies officials. Meanwhile, food and civil supplies and consumer protection minister Amarjeet Bhagat launched salt distribution scheme for APL ration card holders at Rs10 per kg on Friday late evening. Bhagat flagged off trucks loaded with salt from the office of the civil supplies corporation in Nava Raipur. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has decided to give a maximum of two kg of salt per ration card at the rate of Rs10 per kg to the APL families. Salt has been sent by the civil supplies corporation to fair price shops in the state for distribution to general families holding APL ration cards. Refined iodine-containing nectar salt will be distributed from government fair price shops.