New Delhi: The Kejriwal government has given a huge relief to the needy people who are living in Delhi and do not have ration cards. Such needy people will continue to get free ration. Delhi Government has decided to provide free ration on 25 May, 2021 with the objective of providing relief to the needy migrant workers, unorganised workers, building construction workers, domestic servants etc, who do not have ration cards, affected due to the lockdown during Corona. In this regard, it has been decided to continue it for the time being in the cabinet meeting held today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. This decision of the cabinet will benefit about 40 lakh non-PDS beneficiaries in Delhi. The cabinet has approved Rs 48.12448 crore for procurement, distribution and transportation of food grains.
A cabinet meeting was held today at the Delhi Secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In the meeting, it was proposed to provide free food grains to non-PDS beneficiaries, keeping in mind the needs of migrant workers and economically weaker people, till the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was approved by the Delhi Cabinet unanimously.
It was stated in the cabinet that during the lockdown imposed during COVID-19, the economically weaker sections faced a lot of difficulties, especially those who do not have ration cards. This includes migrant workers, unorganized workers, building and construction workers, domestic servants, etc. On 25 May 2021, it was decided by the Delhi Cabinet to provide free dry ration (food grains) to such needy people. As per the eligibility prescribed under the NFS Act 2013, 5 kg of food grains were given free of cost to the needy people including migrant workers, unorganized workers, construction workers, domestic helpers who do not have ration cards. Under this, four kg of wheat and one kg of rice are included per person per month. Due to this decision of the cabinet, such people living in Delhi were benefited and now the number of beneficiaries has increased significantly. In addition, free food grains are being provided to 72.78 lakh PDS beneficiaries under regular allocation under NFSA.
With the approval of the Minister of Food and Supplies, Government of Delhi, detailed guidelines were issued by the department on 27 May 2021 for the distribution of the above ration in view of COVID-19. For this, food grains were procured from the Food Corporation of India and are being distributed to the needy people from June 5, 2021 through 282 identified distribution centers in Delhi, schools of the Education Department, all the three municipal corporations and NDMC. The school authorities entrusted with the task of distributing ration to the beneficiaries have been provided with a login ID and password for a software link called Delhi Relief. At the same time, now the number of non-PDS beneficiaries living in Delhi has increased to about 40 lakhs. It was proposed in the Delhi cabinet to provide food grains to these 40 lakh non-PDS beneficiaries living in Delhi like PDS beneficiaries. The cabinet decided that the needy people including migrant workers, unorganised workers, building and construction workers, domestic helpers who do not have ration cards, will continue to get free ration.
At present, the distribution of food grains to the beneficiaries is being done through 282 schools identified by the Education Department, three municipal corporations and NDMC. But in the coming days, schools are likely to open in neighbouring states and Delhi as well. In view of this, there may be a problem in the distribution of food grains in the schools. Therefore, an alternative arrangement is being prepared for distribution of food grains to the beneficiaries after the opening of the schools. At the same time, registration for ration can be done by visiting Delhi Government Ration E-Coupon Corona Relief Portal. During the distribution of ration, four civil defense personnel will be deployed per distribution center for security and compliance with the COVID protocols. It is estimated that around 100 distribution centers will be required. One center per circle with the provision of 30 additional centers will be opened in areas where migrant laborers live. These additional 30 centers will be made operational as per the demand of the people.
The non-PDS food grains in Delhi will be distributed to the target beneficiaries through the identified location or school. The Food and Supplies Department of Delhi Government has identified 100 places in different areas of Delhi. About 16 thousand metric tonnes of wheat and 4,000 metric tonnes of rice would be required by the Delhi Government to provide free ration to 40 lakh non-PDS beneficiaries. The Delhi government will buy this ration from the Food Corporation of India. The Delhi cabinet has approved its budget today. A total budget of Rs 48.12448 crore has been approved for this. In this, Rs 42.40 crore will be spent on the purchase of food grains. About Rs 2.096 crore will be spent on transportation. While Rs 3.62848 crore will be paid to civil defense employees.