JAMMU: A detailed meeting was held under the chairmanship of Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) J&K, Dr Arvind Karwani, to review the progress of integration of ration cards of Kashmiri and Jammu migrants on the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database and extension of benefits of social sector schemes to migrant beneficiaries.
Deputy Commissioner (Relief), Assistant Commissioners of Relief Organisation, Deputy Director FCS&CA, Assistant Director, FCS&CA, Assistant Director Planning, Zonal Officers/Camp Commandants of the Relief Organisation, concerned Tehsildars of different districts of Jammu Province and officials from different line departments attended the meeting.
The Relief & Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) highlighted the importance of time bound completion of the exercise of integration of migrant ration cards of Kashmiri and Jammu Migrants, in terms of the government notifications issued on the subject, 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, without affecting the extant scale of ration distribution and migrant status.
The migrant beneficiaries were not earlier able to avail benefit of various social sector schemes like old pensions, scholarships and marriage assistance due to the fact that their ration cards were non-digitized and not integrated with the national database. After the launching of the new PDS portal by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, the process of integration of about 50,000 migrant families into the national database has now been initiated.
More than 3000 families have so far been identified for extending benefits of various social sector schemes and after integration on the NFSA database. About 320 families have already been sanctioned assistance under social sector schemes since December 2025. The migrants were also facing difficulties in availing benefits under Ayushman Bharat Scheme, which has also been redressed after transition into the NFSA database.
It was enjoined upon all the officers to ensure time bound completion of the exercise of integration of all migrant ration cards and ensure that all preparations are in place to ensure uninterrupted ration supply as per the new dispensation from the coming financial year. Dr Karwani impressed upon all the officers to regularly organise outreach camps to facilitate the public in the integration of their NFSA applications and to avail the benefit of various social sector schemes.
