Odisha is set to implement the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' programme of the Modi Government as the state government has decided to launch the facility from 1 September, reports Economic Times.

The development was made public by Odisha's Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain who said that the project will first be initiated for ration card holders under Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on a pilot basis and later would be expanded across the state.

Under the policy, beneficiaries can receive ration from any Public Distribution System (PDS) outlet under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).

“We will implement this in Bhubaneswar first on a pilot basis and in other places in the next phases. The scheme would ensure inter-state portability of ration cards. The facility is similar to that of ATM cards, wherein beneficiaries will have access to any PDS shop they want,” Swain was quoted in the report as saying.

Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan announced the ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ programme recently. Under the scheme, all states have been given a deadline of 1 June 2020 to implement it to ensure inter and intra-state portability of ration cards.