SRINAGAR: In a significant step toward improving food security across Jammu and Kashmir, the Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) has expanded the region’s Public Distribution System (PDS) to include children born after Census 2011 up to 2016. This decision also extends coverage to any eligible left-out beneficiaries who have not yet been included in the PDS.
The announcement comes after a thorough review of the current PDS framework, governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Food Security Rules, 2021 and the Jammu and Kashmir Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2023. These frameworks have been instrumental in defining and regulating the distribution of food grains, ration cards, and other essential services across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the government order – 47-JK(FCS&CA) of 2024, the following major points are highlighted:
Inclusion of Children Born Between 2011 and 2016: The order mandates the inclusion of children born during the years 2011 to 2016 under the appropriate AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana), PHH (Priority Households), NPHH (Non-Priority Households), or exclusion family cards/households as applicable. Approximately nine lakh children born between these years are expected to benefit from this inclusion.
New Ration Cards for Orphaned Children: In cases where both parents of a child are deceased, separate ration cards will be issued to children. Preferably, these cards will be issued in the name of a female member of the household, and if no such female member exists, the eldest male child will be named the ration card holder.
Coverage for Left-out Residents: The order also seeks to bring eligible left-out residents of Jammu and Kashmir, who were previously not covered, into the PDS network. These individuals will now receive ration cards under their appropriate categories.
The region’s PDS currently covers 66.18 lakh beneficiaries under AAY and PHH categories and another 32.46 lakh individuals under the NPHH category. The new initiative will allow further extension of coverage to new beneficiaries without disrupting the existing infrastructure. Additionally, each AAY household will continue receiving 35 kg of food grains monthly, and PHH beneficiaries will receive 5 kg of food grains per person. NPHH beneficiaries will also be provided with food grains at highly subsidized rates, including rice at Rs 15/kg, wheat at Rs 12/kg, and wheat flour at Rs. 13/kg.
The expansion of the PDS follows a series of reforms, including Aadhaar seeding, e-KYC completion, and the deduplication of beneficiaries, which has successfully weeded out a large number of bogus or duplicate beneficiaries from the system.
With the availability of these newly verified slots in the PDS, the Department has expressed confidence in its ability to provide increased food support to residents across Jammu and Kashmir. Technological improvements in the system have been pivotal in making the distribution more transparent and user-friendly.
This new directive is part of the broader commitment of the government to ensure no citizen is left behind, especially in matters of food security. With the introduction of this order, children and left-out residents in Jammu and Kashmir can expect improved access to essential commodities through a more robust and inclusive Public Distribution System.
