Good news for underprivileged in Okhla as free ration benefit extended
The period for free ration supply to the beneficiaries has been extended for another six months i.e. up to May 2022 to mitigate the economic hardship caused by the pandemic Covid-19.
The underprivileged of Delhi have been receiving free ration ever since the pandemic struck in March-April 2020 and needy people are getting free ration through their ration cards and also those without having ration cards, said the Delhi government in a statement a few days ago.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting headed by Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister of Delhi, Imran Hussain. Commissioner (F&S), CMD, Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC) and other senior officers of the F&S Department and DSCSC were also present to review the distribution of free ration under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) beneficiaries to review the progress of distribution of 5 kg of food grains to non-PDS beneficiaries(without ration card ) in Delhi.
The Minister said the Arvind Kejriwal Government has given a huge relief to the people of Delhi amidst the Covid pandemic.
The F&S Minister directed Food & Civil Supplies officers to gear up the ration distribution mechanism and ensure that ration distribution is carried out in a smooth, convenient and transparent manner.
Strict action will be taken against those FPS dealers who refuse the distribution of complete ration to the beneficiaries, he said.
The Minister said the decision is to benefit about 17,78,632 households covering about 72.77 Lakhs beneficiaries which include 68,732 Antodya Anna Yojna (AAY) households having 2,81,006 beneficiaries.
Also, Hussain said for effective management at Fair Price shops, the Delhi Government has decided to deploy civil defence volunteers to ensure social distancing norms and orderly distribution of free ration to the beneficiaries.
He directed the Food & Civil Supplies department to ensure that the Civil Defence Volunteers deputed at FPSs should monitor all the beneficiaries visiting FPS shops for getting ration, are wearing masks and are following social distancing norms. The Minister also directed the officers to ensure that FPS dealers adopt Covid appropriate behaviour at all times during Ration distribution.
During the meeting, the F & S Minister directed the officers of DSCSC to ensure the lifting of foodgrains from FCI godowns and transporting the foodgrains to the respective Fair Price Shops every month in a smooth and uninterrupted manner.
The Minister urged the transporters to adequately sensitise truck drivers and their helpers in scrupulously following the guidelines/advisory of Covid-19 protocol and adopt Covid appropriate behaviour while transporting foodgrains.
Further, the F&S Minister also warned the transporters that anyone found involved in activities such as diversion of foodgrains, deliberate delay in their transportation etc. shall face stern action as per law.
Hussain said the Delhi Government is keeping a close watch on the price trends of essential commodities and assured that wherever considered necessary and it will undertake market intervention for the stabilisation of prices of essential commodities in Delhi during the pandemic time.
