In an important step to provide relief to people amid Coronavirus pandemic, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday decided to provide monthly free ration to all PDS (Public Distribution System) card holders till November 2020.
With an aim to mitigate the economic hardship caused by Covid-19 the Delhi government will continue to provide food grains free of cost to the National Food Security (NFS) beneficiaries in Delhi, the government said in a statement.
The decision was taken by the Chief Minister along with the Food and Civil Supply Minister Imran Hussain.
“The government will be providing PDS ration to NFS beneficiaries for the next five months including July, August, September, and October up to November, free of cost. The distribution of food grains for July 2020 is scheduled to start in a phased manner from 8th July onwards,” it said.
PDS covered by the National Food Security Act in Delhi and more than 17.54 lakh households get ration. This scheme benefits nearly 71,40,938 and they get subsidized food grains from the Delhi government, it said.
“These include 68,465 Antodya Anna Yojna (AAY) households with 2,78,954 beneficiaries who are provided subsidized food grains. NFS beneficiaries are provided with five kg of food grain every month including 4 kg of wheat and 1 kg of rice,” it said.
Regular entitlement under AAY category is 25 kg wheat per household, 10 kg rice per household and 1 kg sugar per household, it said, adding that cost fixed for entitlement is Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 3 per kg for rice, which shall not be charged from the NFS beneficiaries (including AAY beneficiaries) while obtaining the ration for July 2020 to November 2020.
Hussain said, “During the lockdown the Department of Food and Supplies has successfully made all-out efforts towards meeting the food requirements of the poor and vulnerable sections of the city including NFS beneficiaries. Delhi govt had earlier provided entitled ration free of cost to the NFS beneficiaries for April-June also.”
The food minister cautioned the ration beneficiaries to be aware and not to pay anything for the foodgrains being provided to them as the Government of Delhi has decided to provide ration to the beneficiaries, free of cost for July-November. “In case beneficiaries face any problem in receiving ration free of cost at FPS, they may contact officers of the F&S Department for immediate redressal,” he said.
The beneficiaries can make a complaint to the respective Assistant Commissioner, Food Supplies Officer (FSO) or Food Supplies Inspector (FSI). They may also complain about the helpline number 1967 and other grievance redressal portals including PGMS.
Hussain also said that for effective management at Fair Price Shops, the government has deployed civil defence volunteers to ensure social distancing norms and orderly distribution of food grains.
The departmental officials including assistant commissioners, food supply officers and food supply inspectors have been deployed in the field round the clock to facilitate the distribution of food grains, he said.
“All department officials and the distribution team of FPS are working seven days a week without any weekly off. Members of the vigilance committee are also actively monitoring the distribution process. Area MLAs including ministers are also inspecting the FPSs from time to time to motivate the staff and to ensure smooth distribution,” Hussain added.
