J&K to provide free ration to migrants across UT from April 18

By RK Online Desk
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17 Apr 2026

Jammu, Apr 17: The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced that free ration distribution for registered migrants will begin from April 18 across designated ration depots in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, the initiative will be implemented under a special relief scheme for migrants in both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions, as notified by the government on March 5.

Relief Commissioner Arvind Karwani said that all eligible relief ration card holders irrespective of their classification as Priority Household, Non-Priority Household, or Special Category will receive 11 kilograms of free ration per person per month, along with 1 kilogram of sugar, in line with the existing distribution norms.

He further stated that individuals registered under the non-relief category, including pensioners and those classified under non-priority households, will continue to receive ration at government-approved rates based on their entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

The administration has also amended provisions under the Jammu and Kashmir Food Security Rules, 2021, and the Targeted Public Distribution System (Control) Order to integrate migrant ration cards with the NFSA database. Officials said this step is intended to streamline access to welfare benefits and improve service delivery.

“This integration enables migrants to avail benefits under various government welfare schemes,” the Relief Commissioner said.

Karwani added that existing procedures related to ration distribution, as well as inclusion, deletion, bifurcation, conversion, and correction of ration cards, will continue to be governed by the norms of the Relief Department.

The department has issued public notices and awareness campaigns, including jingles, to inform beneficiaries about the updated arrangements.The scheme is scheduled to be formally launched in Jammu at 11 a.m. on April 18.