24-Mar-2023: 19.79 crore ration cards digitized under the Public Distribution System in India
The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ms. Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today informed that as on date, all 19.79 crore ration cards issued under National Food Security Act (NFSA) have been digitized under the Public Distribution System reforms and all the States/UTs have developed their transparency portal/PDS Portal too.
Under Public Distribution System (PDS) reforms, nearly 100% automation of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) has also been achieved (i.e. nearly 5.33 Lakh out of 5.34 Lakh FPSs)by installing electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices at FPSs for biometric authentication of beneficiaries and electronic capturing of transaction data, to ensure rightful targeting of NFSA beneficiaries. Around 95% of total allocated foodgrains across the country are being distributed through these ePoS devices, post biometric/Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries.
The Government has approved the supply of fortified rice throughout the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and in Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) of Government of India in all States and Union Territories (UTs) by the year 2024, in a phase-wise manner. The phase-wise implementation of the initiative throughout the country is envisaged below:
- Phase-I: Covered ICDS and PM-POSHAN in all over India by March 2022.
- Phase-II: Phase I above plus TPDS and OWS in all Aspirational and High Burden Districts on stunting (total 291 districts) by March 2023.
- Phase-III: Phase II above plus covering the remaining districts of the country by March 2024.
At present 27 States/UTs are distributing fortified rice through TPDS. As on 05.03.2023, approximately 95.72Lakh Metric Ton (LMT) of fortified rice has been distributed through TPDS under phase-II.
Nearly 100% Fair Price Shops (FPSs) are having electronic-Point of Sales (e-PoS) device for Aadhaar authenticated distribution of foodgrains to rightful beneficiaries of National Food Security Act (NFSA).No issue has been faced under implementation.
23-Mar-2023: eShram data being shared with State Governments and Central Ministries for monitoring and targeted delivery of social security schemes
Ministry of Labour & Employment launched e-Shram portal on 26.08.2021 to create a comprehensive National database of unorganised/migrant workers. The registration on e-Shram is on self-declaration basis for all the unorganised/migrant workers of the Country. As on 14.03.2023, over 28.66 crore unorganised workers have registered on e-Shram portal.
In order to facilitate benefit of social security schemes to the eShram registrants, e-Shram portal is integrated with Pradhan Mantri Shram-Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM) portal. E Shram registrants can seamlessly take benefits of PMSYM pension scheme through this integration. The e-Shram portal is also integrated with National Career Service (NCS) Portal. The e Shram registrants can seamlessly register on NCS portal and search for suitable job opportunities.
The data sharing of e Shram with the State/ UT Governments has been initiated which will facilitate targeted delivery and monitoring of the social security/welfare schemes implemented by the respective State/UT Governments. Further, data sharing guidelines with Central Ministries/ Departments has also been issued on 02.03.23 for exchange of eShram data with Central Ministries/ Departments for monitoring and targeted delivery of Welfare Schemes.
21-Mar-2023: National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App for MGNREGS
A field visit to the Alwar district of Rajasthan was made for pilot testing of National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App and after checking its applicability, the NMMS App was launched.
To ensure more transparency in the implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) in the States/UTs, a provision for capturing of attendance at worksite through National Mobile Monitoring System (NMMS) App with geo-tagged time stamped photographs of the worker in a day has been started on 21st May 2021, wherein muster rolls were issued for 20 or more workers. This increases citizen oversight of the programme besides potentially enabling faster processing of payments.
Government of India has decided that from 16.05.2022, the workers attendance will be captured only through NMMS App for all the worksites where muster rolls are issued for 20 or more beneficiaries based on the feedback and suggestions from States/UTs. One year time, thus, has been provided as transition period.
Now, the Ministry has decided that States/UTs shall ensure capturing of attendance for all the works (except Individual Beneficiary works) through NMMS App from 1st January 2023.
NMMS App is used to capture the attendance of Mahatma Gandhi NREGS workers. There is no requirement for having gender-based registration in the NMMS App.