COVID-19: BIG DECISION! Economically weaker sections to get NFSA ration cards - Central government issues advisory

The central government has initiated to launch a special drive, in order to issue NFSA ration cards to the most vulnerable and economically weaker sections of population. This initiative by the central government will ensure coverage of all eligible identified persons from the most vulnerable and economically weakest sections of population under National Food Security Act (NFSA) and is of utmost importance because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. This initiative has been initiated by the central government to support the economically weaker sections of the society consisting of the street dwellers, rag pickers, hawkers, rickshaw pullers, migrant labourers who are in need of food but have failed to procure a ration card. 

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As per the government release, on June 2, 2021, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has issued an advisory to all the states and union territories asking them to launch this drive. The states and the union territories have been asked to issue NFSA ration cards to the economically weaker and vulnerable sections of the population in the urban, as well as the rural areas, by utilising the available coverage under their respective NFSA limits.

In a letter addressed to the Principal Secretary/ Secretary of the Food and Civil Supplies Department of all the states and union territories, the government mentioned, "The constant endeavour under the NFSA should be to take special care for identification and providing ration cards to eligible households in urban as well as rural areas, subject to the overall ceiling of each State/UT." 

In the present condition, the states as well as the union territories have been requested to utilise the available coverage under their overall NFSA limit by launching this special drive and reaching out to those sections of the society who are the weakest and most vulnerable in the rural as well as the urban areas. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has been going on now for more than over a year and this pandemic has adversely impacted the lives of the people. As per various media reports, NGOs and others, the weakest and the most vulnerable section consisting of the street dwellers, rag pickers, hawkers, rickshaw pullers, migrant labours etc. who are in dire need of foodgrains, are unable to procure ration cards. 

This initiative of the government is certainly going to support these economically weak and vulnerable sections of the society amidst this COVID-19 crisis.