In continuation of earlier meetings on the subject, a review meeting was held today under the joint chairmanship of Director Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Jammu RK Shavan and Relief & Rehabilitation Commissioner (M) J&K Dr Arvind Karwani to review the implementation of ration distribution under the Special Relief Ration Scheme for Kashmiri and Jammu Migrants.
The scheme was notified vide Government Order No. 15-JK(FCS&CA) of 2026 dated 05.03.2026 to extend the benefits of social sector and welfare schemes to eligible migrants following the integration of their ration cards into the national database.
The meeting was informed that more than 24,000 migrant ration cards have already been entered into the NFSA database and the process of integrating about 8,000 remaining cards is underway. Migrants who could not lift their ration in April and May are being provided three months’ free ration covering April, May and June 2026.
Those who received less ration due to any technical glitch in April or May will also be provided the remaining portion by the FCS&CA Department. The officers of the FCS&CA Department and the Relief Organisation will take proactive steps to reach out to all households and ensure ration supply to all migrant beneficiaries who have enrolled for integration into the NFSA database, even if e-KYC formalities are pending or in process.
The FCS&CA Department will provide free ration for April, May and June as a one-time exception during the transition period ending 30 June 2026 to all such beneficiaries from the Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers indicated in their NFSA applications. Officers of both departments will also reach out to households that have still not lifted their ration despite completing e-KYC formalities to facilitate them. The National Informatics Centre was asked to redress current technical issues.
It was decided that an extensive IEC campaign through print, electronic and social media will continue to inform migrants that the integration of cards into the NFSA database is a welfare-oriented governance reform. The initiative aims to include migrants into the mainstream welfare architecture, extend social security benefits, digitise records and ensure transparency and accountability. Under the new arrangement, the continuation and protection of all existing relief provisions, guidelines and entitlements available to Kashmiri and Jammu migrants is ensured.
The government has repeatedly clarified that the earlier scale of ration distribution will continue. Besides, those registered with the Relief Organisation under the non-relief category, such as pensioners and categorised into the NPHH category will also receive ration at government-approved rates as per their entitlement under the NFSA. The FCS&CA Department will place banners at all FPS depots indicating ration entitlement, availability and transition-period guidelines for families whose e-KYC formalities are still pending. Such beneficiaries will be assisted to complete their e-KYC formalities at the time of ration distribution and informed that these formalities must be completed before 30 June 2026 to receive uninterrupted supply from July 2026 onwards.
It was also observed that nearly 1,000 families have started availing themselves of benefits under different social sector schemes, including Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, Disability Pension and Marriage Assistance, following the integration of their ration cards into the NFSA database.
Among those present were senior officers from the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, the Relief Organisation and the National Informatics Centre.