JAMMU, MAY 07: Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRRR), Chandraker Bharti, today chaired a review meeting to assess the implementation of ration distribution under the Special Relief Ration Scheme for Kashmiri/Jammu Migrants and extension of social sector scheme benefits to eligible beneficiaries.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Saurabh Bhagat, Relief & Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) J&K, Senior Superintendent of Police Jammu, State Informatics Officer NIC J&K and senior officers from DMRRR, Social Welfare Department, FCS&CA and National Informatics Centre.
During the meeting, it was informed that more than 19,000 migrant ration cards have already been integrated into the NFSA database, while the process for inclusion of nearly 8,000 additional ration cards is underway.
Officials informed that full quota of ration has been made available at all designated depots and more than 5,200 migrant families have so far lifted ration under the Special Relief Ration Scheme, distribution of which commenced from April 18, 2026.
It was further informed that those families who could not collect ration during April are being provided two months’ free ration for April and May 2026.
The meeting was informed that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has amended the Jammu & Kashmir Food Security Rules, 2021 and the Targeted Public Distribution (Control) Order 2023 to facilitate integration of migrant ration cards into the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database.
This integration aims to enable migrant families to avail benefits of various government welfare schemes, which many could not access over the last 35 years due to non-digitisation of ration cards.
The government reiterated that all existing relief provisions, entitlements and norms related to migrant ration distribution shall continue without any change.
All relief ration card holders, irrespective of their categorisation into PHH, NPHH or Special Category, will continue to receive 11 kilograms of free ration per person per month along with one kilogram of sugar as per the existing scale.
Beneficiaries registered under the non-relief category, including pensioners falling under the NPHH category, will also continue receiving five kilograms of ration at government-approved rates as per NFSA norms.
The government has also extended the distribution period for April 2026 ration into May 2026 to ensure no migrant beneficiary is deprived of entitled ration during the transition to the digitised NFSA-based system.
The meeting decided that officers of DMRRR, FCS&CA and the Relief Organisation will proactively reach out to households and ensure ration supply to all migrant beneficiaries who have enrolled for NFSA integration, even if e-KYC formalities are pending.
Directions were also issued for launching an extensive IEC campaign to spread awareness among migrant families regarding the objectives and benefits of the integration process.
Strict action was ordered against any Fair Price Shop dealer failing to distribute free ration to eligible beneficiaries as per government norms. Instructions were also issued for legal action against rumour mongers attempting to create confusion regarding the scheme.
The meeting further decided that more special camps would be organised by the Social Welfare Department in coordination with the Relief Organisation to facilitate eligible beneficiaries in availing welfare schemes including old age pension, widow pension, disability pension, marriage assistance, Ayushman Bharat and scholarships.
Officials informed that nearly 600 migrant families have already availed benefits of various social sector schemes following integration into the NFSA database.
“The government is fully committed to operationalise the new scheme for all migrants within the shortest possible time. All genuine beneficiaries will continue to receive ration as per entitlement with full protection of existing relief provisions,” the Principal Secretary said.
