Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir administration has integrated more than 17,500 migrant ration cards into the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database, while the process of integrating an additional 8,000 cards is currently underway, officials said on Saturday.
The details were shared during a high-level review meeting chaired by Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, Chandrakar Bharti. The meeting reviewed the implementation of ration distribution under the Special Relief Ration Scheme for Kashmiri and Jammu migrants, as well as the extension of benefits of various social sector schemes to eligible beneficiaries.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Saurabh Bhagat; Directors of Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs for Jammu and Kashmir; Director Social Welfare Jammu; Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), J&K; Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu; and other senior officers of the department.
Officials informed that ration distribution under the Special Relief Ration Scheme began on April 18, 2026, through migrant camps. Directions have been issued to ensure smooth and hassle-free distribution from all 32 designated ration depots in Jammu district, with flexibility for migrants to collect their ration from any nearby depot. Similar arrangements are being implemented across other districts of the Jammu province.
It was highlighted that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, through S.O. 392 and S.O. 393 of 2024 dated August 13, 2024, introduced amendments to the Jammu & Kashmir Food Security Rules, 2021 and the Targeted Public Distribution (Control) Order, 2023. These amendments enabled the integration of migrant ration cards into the NFSA database, thereby allowing migrants to access a wider range of government welfare schemes.
Further, in terms of Government Order No. 27-JK(DMRRR) of 2025 dated May 16, 2025, the administration has clarified that the existing scale of ration distribution for migrants registered under the relief category, along with norms and procedures for inclusion, deletion, bifurcation, conversion and corrections, will continue as per the established guidelines of the Relief Organisation.
The administration has also reiterated through multiple public notices and information campaigns that all relief ration card holders—irrespective of their categorization into PHH, NPHH or special category—will continue to receive 11 kilograms of free ration per person per month, along with 1 kilogram of sugar, as per the existing entitlement.
Additionally, migrants registered under the non-relief category, including pensioners categorized under NPHH, will receive ration at government-approved rates in accordance with their NFSA entitlement.
To ensure that no beneficiary is deprived of their entitled ration, the government has approved a one-time extension for distribution of the April 2026 quota into May 2026, in addition to the regular May allocation.
The meeting also emphasized close supervision of the integration process by officers of the Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Department and the Relief Organisation. It was decided that more special outreach camps will be organized by the Social Welfare Department, in coordination with the Relief Organisation, to facilitate eligible beneficiaries in applying for various social sector schemes.
These schemes include Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, Disability Pension, Marriage Assistance, healthcare benefits under Ayushman Bharat, and scholarships. Officials informed that approximately 450 families have already availed benefits under different social sector schemes following the integration of their ration cards into the NFSA database.
The department reiterated its commitment to fully operationalize the scheme for all migrants at the earliest, ensuring seamless delivery of both ration and welfare benefits.
