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Agriculture & Food Management 259

7.64 The Government has started distributing fortified rice under Integrated Child Development
Scheme and PM Poshan schemes across the country during 2021-22 in an effort to scale up the
distribution of fortified rice in the country to fight malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies
among pregnant women, lactating mothers, children etc. Nearly 19.79 LMT (as on 04.01.2022)
of fortified rice has been procured by FCI and Decentralized Procuring States for distribution
under ICDS and PM Poshan across the country.

One Nation One Ration Card

7.65 Under the scheme “Integrated Management of Public Distribution System" which was
started during 2018-19 and 2019-20, One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) System has
been launched. The validity of the scheme has been extended to 31.03.2023 from the existing
31.03.2022. Through this system migratory beneficiaries shall be able to access their food
security entitlements from any fair price shop (FPS) of their choice by using their same ration
card after biometric/Aadhaar authentication on electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices at the
FPS. Presently, the facility of national/inter-State portability is enabled in 34 States/UT covering
nearly 75 crore beneficiaries (94.3 per cent of total NFSA population). Constant efforts are
being made to expand the reach of national portability to the beneficiaries of remaining two
States also.

Open Market Sale Scheme

7.66 In addition to maintaining buffer stocks and for making a provision for meeting the
requirement of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes,
FCI on the instructions from the Government sells excess stocks out of Central Pool through
Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) [OMSS (D)] in the open market from time to time at
predetermined prices called reserve prices. A target of 75 LMT of wheat has been set for sale by
FCI including retail sale out of Central Pool in the open market under OMSS (D) during 2021-
22. Also, a target of 50 LMT of rice has been set for sale by FCI out of Central Pool in the open
market under OMSS (D) during 2021-22.

7.67 Under the OMSS (D) 2020-21 policy, a special dispensation for supply of foodgrains to all
the charitable or non-governmental organizations etc. engaged in relief or running community
kitchens for migrant labourers/vulnerable groups due to the present lock down condition was
introduced since 08.04.2020. Under this scheme, wheat at the uniform rate of ₹ 21 per kilogram
and rice at the uniform rate of ₹ 22 per kilogram are issued to charitable institutions/NGO.
There is no upper limit of allocation of foodgrains to each of such organizations from any FCI
depot. This special dispensation was initially till June, 2020 which was extended for rest of the
year 2020-21 at the same rate, terms and conditions. In view of resurgence of COVID pandemic,
the said special dispensation was further extended till 31st March 2022 or till further order,
whichever is later, at the same rate, terms and conditions. Under this scheme, 1126 organizations
had lifted 10422 MT of rice and 230 organizations had lifted 1,246 MT of wheat till 25.03.2021.
Further, in the year 2021-22, 34 organizations have lifted 847 MT of rice and 6 organizations
have lifted 10 MT of wheat till 13.01.2022. The quantities of wheat and rice sold under the
OMSS (D) during the last five years and FY 2021-22 is given in Figure 27.