Haryana State PCS

• 23 Mar 2024

SC Directs all UTs and States to Issue Ration Cards to Unorganised and Migrant Workers

Why in News?

Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) directed all states and Union Territories (UTs) to ensure that ration cards are issued to 80 million migrant and unorganised workers within the next two months.

Key Points

• Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, the apex court ordered governments to issue ration cards to 80 million persons.
  • These people are registered on the eShram portal but do not possess the cards.
  • The court noted that the exercise of matching eShram registrants with NFSA beneficiaries had already been undertaken and on that basis, it had been found that nearly 80 million people do not possess ration cards.
  • Hence, they are not able to avail the benefit of monthly food grains under the Act.
• The SC further directed that the ration cards must be issued irrespective of the quotas defined in section 3 of the NFSA.
  • Section 3: Right to receive food grains at subsidised prices by persons belonging to eligible households under Targeted Public Distribution System.

National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA)

• It marks a paradigm shift in the approach to food security from welfare to rights based approach.
• NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population under:
  • Antyodaya Anna Yojana: It constitutes the poorest-of-the-poor, are entitled to receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
  • Priority Households (PHH): Households covered under PHH category are entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month.
• The eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above is mandated to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards.
• In addition, the act lays down special provisions for children between the ages of 6 months and 14 years old, which allows them to receive a nutritious meal for free through a widespread network of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres, known as Anganwadi Centres.

e-Shram Portal

• It aims to register 38 crore unorganised workers such as construction labourers, migrant workforce, street vendors, and domestic workers, among others.
• The workers will be issued an e-Shram card containing a 12 digit unique number.
• If a worker is registered on the eSHRAM portal and meets with an accident, he will be eligible for Rs 2.0 Lakh on death or permanent disability and Rs 1.0 lakh on partial disability.

ICAR Celebrated Golden Jubilee of Krishi Vigyan Kendras

Why in News?

Recently, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Krishi Vigyan Kendras in 2024.

Key Points

• The first Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) was established by the ICAR on 21st March 1974.
  • At present India has a network of 731 KVKs, where each KVK serves more than 5000 farmers.
  • KVK network is spread across various states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, etc.
• KVKs serve as a comprehensive hub for technology transfer, capacity building, market information, and skill development for farmers at the grassroots level.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)

• KVK is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS).
• The mandate of KVK is technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity development.
• It aims at assessment of location specific technology modules in agriculture and allied enterprises, through technology assessment, refinement and demonstrations.
• KVKs also produce quality technological products (seed, planting material, bio-agents, livestock) and make it available to farmers.
• The KVK scheme is 100% financed by the Government of India and the KVKs are sanctioned to Agricultural Universities, ICAR institutes, related Government Departments and Non Government Organizations (NGOs) working in Agriculture.
• KVKs act as a bridge between the laboratories and farmland. According to the Government, these are crucial to fulfilling the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.