Govt asks states to issue ration cards to poor

The govt stated that the states should identify eligible persons and households under NFSA for issuance of ration cards

The Centre has issued an advisory to all the states and union territories to launch a special drive to issue ration cards to the most vulnerable and economically weaker sections of the population amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"To ensure coverage of all eligible identified persons from the most vulnerable and economically weakest sections of population under National Food Security Act assumes importance in



view of the current pandemic scenario of Covid-19," informed the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

It stated that the states and UTs should take measures to reach out to vulnerable and weakest sections of the society i.e. street dwellers, rag pickers, hawkers, rickshaw pullers among others.

The operational responsibilities of identification of eligible persons and households under NFSA and issuance of ration cards to them rest with states and UTs, it added.