SC asks states, UTs to implement ‘one nation, one ration card’ scheme

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Bengal government to implement the One Nation One Ration Card scheme “immediately” to help beneficiaries, especially migrant workers, to avail of subsidised food commodities from anywhere in the country.

The Apex Court reserved its order on the problems faced by migrant workers during the lockdown. The SC also reserved order on the registration process of the workers in the unorganised sector with the motive to avail benefits to them under multiple government schemes.

“In fact, all states must implement this scheme so that migrant workers can benefit,” remarked the bench of justices Ashok Bhushan and MR Shah, hearing a suo motu, registered on its own motion case pertaining to “problems and miseries of migrant workers”.

The Supreme court said that “You can not site one or the other problem. This is for the migrant workers, “no excuse will be considered”.

Under the One Nation-One Ration Card scheme, the Public Distribution System beneficiaries will be able to draw ration from any fair-price shop across the states and Union Territories that has biometric verification.

The scheme is currently functional in 32 states and Union territories. Apart from West Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Delhi are the other states yet to implement it, according to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing the Centre.

The Delhi government, however, submitted in court that it will implement the scheme.