Srinagar, May 5 (KNS):In a move aimed at strengthening the inclusivity of the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a fresh order directing the inclusion of children aged six years and above, as well as any left-out eligible beneficiaries, under the PDS framework.
According to Government Order No. 34-JK(FCS&CA) of 2025, issued by the Department of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), children who have attained the age of six are to be added to the respective ration cards — AAY, PHH, NPHH, or Exclusion — based on household eligibility.
The order, signed by Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Zubair Ahmad, also mandates the inclusion of any eligible beneficiaries who may have been previously excluded, in accordance with existing norms.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Furthermore, the directive outlines provisions for widows and divorcees not currently covered under the PDS. Upon being reported to the department, such individuals will be issued separate ration cards under PHH, NPHH, or Exclusion categories based on their financial status and compliance with National Food Security Act (NFSA) guidelines.
This step, the government asserts, will ensure more comprehensive coverage and social protection for vulnerable groups under the state’s food security mechanisms.
The order is in continuation of a previous directive dated August 14, 2024 (Order No. 47-JK(FCS&CA) of 2024), reinforcing the administration’s commitment to leaving no eligible individual behind. (KNS)