Integration of migrant ration cards on NFSA database reviewed

JAMMU: A comprehensive meeting was today held under the chairmanship of Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) J&K, Dr. Arvind Karwani, to review the progress of integration of migrant ration cards on the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database and extension of benefits of social sector schemes to migrant beneficiaries.

Vijay Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner (Relief), Sanjeev Kumar Assistant Commissioner (Relief), Tej Krishan, Assistant Commissioner (Relief), Haroon Naik, Assistant Director, Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, Zonal Officers/Camp Commandants and  other senior officers of the Relief Organization , NFSA Cell and  Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department attended the meeting.

The concerned Tehsildars of Jammu, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts of Jammu Province also attended meeting through online mode.  The Relief & Rehabilitation Commissioner (M)  highlighted the importance of time bound completion of integration of migrant ration cards of Kashmiri and Jammu Migrants, in terms of the Government notifications issued vide S.O. 392 and S.O. 393, both dated 13.08.2024, wherein the necessary amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Food Security Rules, 2021 and Targeted Public Distribution (Control) Order 2023, have been done to enable migrants to avail the benefit of various Government Schemes.

Further, in terms of the Government Order No 27-JK(DMRRR) of 2025 dated 16.05.2025, issued by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation, it has also been explicitly clarified that the existing scale of ration distribution to the migrants registered under the Relief Category and extant norms/procedures for Inclusion, Deletion, Bifurcation, Conversion, Corrections of Ration Cards shall continue.

 After the launching of the new PDS portal in August 2025, by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department, the process of integration of about 50,000 migrant families into the national database has been initiated.

 Pertinent to mention that the migrant beneficiaries were not able to avail benefit of various social sector schemes like old age pension, widow pension, disability pension, marriage assistance and scholarships etc due to the fact that their ration cards were non-digitized and not integrated with the national database.

More than 3000 families have been identified for the benefits of various social sector schemes and have already benefited from social sector schemes in the past one month.

 The migrants were also facing difficulties in availing benefits under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which will also be redressed after transition into the NFSA database.

A detailed review of the applications received for integration , data punched on the portal, e-KYC done, ration cards generated and forms filled/benefits availed  under social sector schemes in respect of each Zone/Camp was done.