JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government has accelerated the integration of migrant ration cards into the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database, with over 19,000 ration cards already digitised and another 8,000 currently in the pipeline.
The progress was reviewed during a meeting chaired by Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Chandraker Bharti to assess implementation of ration distribution under the Special Relief Ration Scheme for Kashmiri and Jammu migrants.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Saurabh Bhagat, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (Migrants), SSP Jammu, officers from NIC and senior officials from multiple departments.
Officials informed the meeting that more than 5,200 migrant families had already lifted ration under the Special Relief Ration Scheme since distribution commenced on April 18, 2026.
The government also assured that migrant families who could not avail ration during April would receive two months’ free ration covering both April and May 2026.
Officials said full quota of ration had been made available at designated depots across the region.
The meeting was informed that the government had amended the Jammu and Kashmir Food Security Rules, 2021 and the Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2023 to facilitate integration of migrant ration cards into the NFSA database and enable beneficiaries to access various welfare schemes.
Authorities noted that migrant ration cards had remained non-digitised for nearly 35 years, preventing beneficiaries from availing social sector schemes.
The government reiterated that all existing relief provisions and entitlements for migrant families would continue unchanged. Under the current relief scheme, all registered migrant ration card holders, irrespective of categorisation, will continue to receive 11 kilograms of free ration per person every month along with one kilogram of sugar.
Officials added that beneficiaries registered under the non-relief category, including pensioners categorised under NPHH, would continue to receive five kilograms of ration at government-approved rates as per NFSA entitlement.
The meeting also decided that officers from DMRRR, FCS&CA and the Relief Organisation would proactively reach out to migrant households to ensure ration supply even where e-KYC formalities are pending or under process.
An extensive awareness campaign will also be launched to inform migrants that the integration of ration cards into the NFSA database is aimed at extending social security benefits, ensuring transparency and modernising records without affecting existing relief benefits.
Directions were issued for strict action against fair price shop dealers violating government norms in distribution of free ration, while officials were also asked to act against rumour-mongering elements attempting to create confusion regarding the scheme.
The meeting further decided that special camps would be organised by the Social Welfare Department in coordination with the Relief Organisation to help migrant families avail benefits under schemes such as old-age pension, widow pension, disability pension, marriage assistance, Ayushman Bharat and scholarship programmes.
Officials informed the meeting that around 600 families had already availed benefits under various social sector schemes after integration of migrant ration cards into the NFSA database.
Chandraker Bharti said the government remains committed to implementing the scheme within the shortest possible time while ensuring that all genuine beneficiaries continue to receive ration and welfare benefits without disruption.
