Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Nov 12: The state of Goa has witnessed a steady rise in the adoption of the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) initiative, with 57,892 transactions recorded since its launch in January 2020, officials said on Tuesday.

According to data from the Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, the state registered 24,327 transactions in 2025 (as of October), followed by 19,971 in 2024, 7,458 in 2023, and 6,136 in 2022, reflecting a consistent upward trend in the usage of the scheme.

The ONORC initiative, implemented under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), enables beneficiaries to access subsidised food grains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) across the country, irrespective of their home state, thereby ensuring portability of food security benefits for migrant workers and their families.

Speaking about the progress of the scheme, Amit Sawant, Deputy Director, Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, said that the surge in transactions highlights growing awareness among beneficiaries.

“Beneficiaries can now use their Aadhaar number or ration card number for identity verification and biometric authentication at any ePoS-enabled Fair Price Shop to collect their entitled food grains,” Sawant explained.

Since its introduction in Goa on January 1, 2020, the department has conducted several awareness and outreach programmes to educate citizens about the scheme’s features and benefits.

Officials said the initiative has played a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability, and convenience for NFSA beneficiaries, particularly those frequently migrating for work.

The ONORC scheme, a flagship reform under the central government’s food security initiative, continues to gain momentum nationwide, ensuring that no citizen is deprived of their food entitlements due to relocation.