Nagaland General Household (GHH) Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Nagaland General Household (GHH) Scheme is a food-grain assistance scheme of the Department of Food & Civil Supplies, Government of Nagaland. The scheme was formally launched on 14 October 2026 at the Directorate of Food & Civil Supplies, Dimapur, by K. T. Sukhalu, Advisor for Food & Civil Supplies. Under this scheme, the state supplies rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS) to eligible households that do not fall under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. 

The department runs the scheme through the state's Tide Over Allocation system, which means it distributes additional rice beyond the regular TPDS allocation to cover families left outside NFSA. Non-indigenous residents may also avail themselves of the scheme's benefits by submitting the prescribed self-declaration confirming that they do not possess a ration card or receive PDS benefits in their home state. However, the GHH ration card issued to them can be used only for obtaining food grains and cannot serve as proof of identity.

The state launched the GHH Scheme to fill a clear gap in food-grain coverage. In Nagaland, NFSA covers only Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Household (PHH) families, which together account for about 70.95% of the population as per Census 2011. The remaining 29.05% of the population stays outside NFSA, and free NFSA rice cannot go to anyone other than PHH and AAY cardholders. The objective of the GHH Scheme is to provide food-security support to these uncovered households, especially families with an annual income of ₹2.5 lakhs or above, by giving them regular access to rice at a government-approved rate.

The key benefit of the Nagaland general household scheme is 5 kg of rice per person, calculated according to the number of family members listed on the household's GHH ration card. The Deputy Commissioner and the District Civil Supply Officer of each district allot the rice, and beneficiaries collect it from designated Fair Price Shops (FPSs). GHH rice is not free; households pay a rate that the department fixes in consultation with the government. The scheme also keeps a buffer stock of rice to handle emergencies such as fire, flood, landslide, and drought, and to meet needs during festivals.

The process works offline through district offices. Eligible families submit Form-I with Aadhaar details of all members at their respective district office, and the department cross-verifies the details through the Ration Card Management System (RCMS) before approving the card. The eldest adult woman (18 years or above) becomes the head of the family on the card, and if no such woman is available, the eldest adult male member takes that role.

Like the Nagaland General Household (GHH) Scheme, the Central Government also runs various initiatives to address the food and nutritional needs of people and children. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) provides free food grains to eligible beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, while the PM POSHAN Scheme provides cooked meals to eligible schoolchildren. These initiatives aim to support food security and nutrition among different sections of society. You can check the complete details of these schemes here.

Scheme Benefits

The GHH Scheme provides non-NFSA households in Nagaland with a regular and reliable supply of rice through the Public Distribution System. Under the scheme, eligible households receive the following benefits:

• Rice allocation: Each eligible household receives 5 kg of rice per person, based on the number of family members on the card.
• GHH ration card: Approved households get a General Household ration card after verification.
• Fair Price Shop distribution: Beneficiaries collect rice from designated Fair Price Shops in their area.
• Government-approved price: The department fixes the issue price after accounting for the central issue price, handling and transport charges, dealer commission, and FPS automation charges.
• Food-security cover: The scheme supports households that receive no rice under the AAY or PHH categories of NFSA.
• Emergency buffer stock: The department reserves rice to meet unforeseen needs during fire, flood, landslide, drought, and festivals.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the General Household Scheme, applicants must fulfil the prescribed eligibility criteria and meet all applicable requirements.

• The household's annual income must be ₹2.5 lakhs or above.
• The household must not be a beneficiary under the AAY or PHH category of NFSA.
• Indian citizens and indigenous inhabitants of Nagaland are eligible under the scheme.
• Non-indigenous residents can apply only after submitting the prescribed self-declaration.
• Households must not hold multiple ration cards, or they may face legal action.
• The eldest woman aged 18 years or above heads the family. If no such woman is available, the eldest adult male member becomes the head.
• The household must submit its family details in the prescribed format, certified and signed, for verification.

Required Documents

Applicants need to submit the following documents and forms while applying for the Nagaland General Household Scheme.

• Prescribed GHH application form (Form-I).
• Aadhaar details of all family members whom the applicant wants to include on the ration card.
• Family details in the prescribed format, duly certified and signed.
• Self-declaration stating that the applicant holds no ration card and receives no PDS benefit in the home state (for non-indigenous applicants only).

Steps to Apply

The GHH Scheme follows an offline application process, and applicants must submit their forms at the respective district office of the Department of Food & Civil Supplies. Follow these steps to apply for a GHH ration card.

• Go to your District Civil Supply Office and ask for Form-I, the form for inclusion under the GHH Scheme.
• Enter the household details and the details of every family member. Name the eldest adult woman as the head of the family, or the eldest adult man if no adult woman is available.
• Add Aadhaar details of all family members and the certified family details in the prescribed format. Non-indigenous applicants must also attach the prescribed self-declaration.
• Hand over the completed form with all documents at the respective district office.
• The department checks the submitted details and cross-verifies them through the Ration Card Management System (RCMS).
• The competent authority reviews the application and approves eligible households. Submitting the form alone does not guarantee approval or a GHH ration card.
• After approval, the household receives the GHH ration card and can collect rice from the designated Fair Price Shop at the government-approved rate.

Special Enrolment Camps for GHH Scheme

The department also organises special enrolment camps at the local level to help eligible households register for the GHH Scheme and complete the enrolment process conveniently.

• Past Camp: A special enrolment camp was held in Wokha Town on 23 July 2026 to facilitate GHH Scheme registration.
• Required Documents: Applicants should carry their Aadhaar card, birth certificate, and two recent passport-size photographs of the head of the family.
• Upcoming Camps: Applicants can contact their respective District Civil Supply Office or visit the Nagaland DIPR website for information about upcoming enrolment camps in their area.

DBT and Payment Details

The GHH Scheme delivers rice, not cash, so it works as a food-grain distribution scheme rather than a Direct Benefit Transfer programme.

• Mode of benefit: Rice through designated Fair Price Shops under the PDS.
• Payment by beneficiary: Households pay the government-approved rate for the rice.
• DBT: The scheme does not provide any direct cash benefits to the beneficiary's bank account.
• Aadhaar: Aadhaar details of all family members are mandatory.
• Current price per kg: The department fixes and may revise the rate, so beneficiaries should confirm the current price with their district office.

Relevant Links

• Nagaland general household scheme Details
• Department of Information & Public Relations, Government of Nagaland

Contact Information

• Department of Information & Public Relations Contact Details
• Department of Information & Public Relations Helpline Number: 0370-2271492
• Helpdesk Email: [email protected]
• Department of Food & Civil Supplies, Nagaland Helpline For complaint/query:
  • 9362565514
  • 9362565513