NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH: AAP’s national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, “The whole country will watch the (doorstep delivery of ration) scheme run successfully in Punjab and demand that it be implemented in every state,” he added.
He said his government’s flagship scheme of setting up mohalla clinics was stopped for two years, the project for installing CCTVs was stalled for three years and the files to build schools and hospitals too got stuck. “(But) we started building mohalla clinics in Delhi and the whole country followed in our footsteps. Whatever innovation we’re doing in Delhi is being followed countrywide,” Kejriwal said.
Following a petition filed by Delhi Sarkari Ration Dealers Sangh challenging the Delhi government’s plan for doorstep delivery of ration, the Centre had in November last year told the Delhi high court that the administration cannot change the architecture of National Food Security Act while implementing such a scheme.
Earlier, the scheme which was targeted at 72 lakh poor beneficiaries had undergone a change of name – the prefix, Mukhyamantri was dropped to call it just Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana – but the LG’s office is known to have argued that since the proposal seeks to change the method of distribution, it would mandatorily require prior approval of the Centre as per section 12 (2) (h) of the National Food Security Act 2013.
Kejriwal said it surprises him that even after 75 years of Independence, people have to stand in long queues at fair price shops to get the monthly ration for their families while people can get fast food by making a phone call.
Launching the scheme in Punjab on Monday, Mann spoke on similar lines: “While the rich can order things from the comfort of their homes, poor people have to sometimes forgo their daily earnings to stand in long queues for hours. The state government has decided to launch doorstep delivery of ration. Ration in clean bags will be delivered and the staff will make a call before making the delivery. It will be an optional scheme, and those who find it convenient to collect ration from a nearby depot may opt out.”
Emphasising that there will be no compromise on the quality of grains, he said, “Flour and cereals delivered through this ration scheme will be of good quality, the same as what the rich eat.”
Punjab has 1.42 lakh beneficiaries under the National Food Safety Act to whom wheat at 5 kg per beneficiary per month is provided for six months at one go, twice a year. Mann also asked people to report to the government in case they get short-changed.
