Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme – Muft Ration to NFSA / PMGKAY Beneficiaries

Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme extension till May 2022 has got approval from the cabinet committee. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on 20 December 2021 said that the Delhi government has decided to extend the distribution of free ration in the city for six months till 31 May 2022. All the beneficiaries of National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) will get free of cost ration under Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme. The ration to be given under Delhi Muft Ration Yojana would be over and above subsidised grains distributed to them through ration shops.

What is Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme 2021

Cabinet committee has taken a decision on 20 Dec 2021 to provide free of cost ration to NFSA / PMGKAY beneficiaries under Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme. CM Kejriwal in a virtual press conference mentioned “We have started distributing free ration ever since the outbreak of coronavirus. The time period of Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme has ended, so this is being extended by six months. The cabinet today decided that free ration distribution will continue till 31 May next year.” The earlier duration of Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme ended on 30 November 2021.

Delhi government distributes free ration to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The city has over 2,000 fair price shops, 17.77 lakh ration card holders and around 72.78 lakh beneficiaries. Free ration is given over and above subsidised grains distributed to them through ration shops under Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme. 

Extension of Delhi Free Ration Distribution Scheme

The PMGKAY was launched in March last year to ameliorate distress caused by COVID-19.  Initially, the scheme was launched for April-June last year, but was later extended to November 30. In November this year, Union Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey had said that the Centre had no proposal to extend distribution of free ration through the PMGKAY beyond November 30. Then too, Kejriwal had said that the free ration distribution would be continued in Delhi by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government till May 31, 2022. 

Delhi CM had also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to extend the free ration distribution scheme to benefit the poor. Now the state government released a statement saying under the NFS Act 2013, 5 kg of food grains were given free of cost to the needy, including migrant workers, unorganised workers, construction workers, domestic helpers and those who do not have ration cards. The government provided 4 kg of wheat and 1 kg of rice per person per month.

“During that time, about 20 lakh people living in Delhi benefited from this decision of the cabinet. In addition, free food grains are being provided to 72.78 lakh PDS beneficiaries under regular allocation under NFSA,” the statement said. It added that the number of non-PDS (Public Distribution System) poor beneficiaries living in Delhi has increased to about 40 lakh and they are also being provided food grains.

No Name for Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana

Now there is now name for Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana 2021 as Delhi govt. had revoked its name. The earlier details has been specified here: Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana was launched by the Delhi government on 21 July 2020. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had started this CM Doorstep Delivery of Ration Scheme to ensure home delivery of ration. The main objective of this scheme was to ensure that no poor person in the NCT of Delhi is deprived of subsidized ration.

Under the new Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana 2021, wheat, flour, rice and sugar were to be delivered to homes in packed bags. The doorstep delivery of ration scheme in Delhi was expected to be rolled out in the next 2 to 3 months but due to some reasons, it was stopped.

In CM Ghar Ghar Ration Scheme, taking ration at subsidized rates from a Public Distribution System (PDS) Shop was to be optional. But this move of the Delhi govt. faced opposition and so the scheme did not become operational.

What was Delhi Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana

The new Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana 2021 was a revolutionary step taken by the Kejriwal-led Delhi state government. In this scheme, people were not required to visit the PDS shops to get ration every time they require it. This scheme was to ensure dignity of poor by ceasing the inconvenience faced by them and packets of rice, flour and sugar were to be delivered at home.

NFSA Beneficiaries Covered in Doorstep Delivery of Ration Scheme

In the state, each person who is having Delhi ration card (beneficiary of NFSA 2013) and is entitled to get ration at subsidized rates from PDS shops earlier were able to get ration at their doorstep. The state govt. had started Doorstep Delivery of Ration Scheme for such RC holders for home delivery of their ration.

Benefits to Poor People in Delhi

Previously, the state govt. of Delhi had launched Doorstep Delivery of Services Scheme and now, govt. has started Door-step delivery of ration scheme. This Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana was going to be a major step towards effective and efficient governance in which people will receive ration at their home but that did not happened. People were not required to come to PDS shops and stand in long queues to avail subsidized ration.

How Ration was to Reach Every Household

CM Arvind Kejriwal mentioned that wheat was to be taken from FCI warehouse for grinding and then its packaging was to be done. Other essential items like rice, sugar were also be packed. After packaging process of ration was complete, a facilitator will deliver ration at the home of eligible people.

Option of Home Delivery or Going to PDS Shops for Ration

In Delhi, people were to get an option to either take benefit of Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana to get ration delivered at their doorstep or can go to PDS shops to avail ration. Only those who choose the option of “Ration Ki Home Delivery” will get it delivered at their home.

How Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana Was Proposed to Work

Delhi govt. ensured that this scheme was to deliver ration at doorstep of people. In this scheme, all those people who were eligible to take ration from PDS shops were to place order for doorstep delivery. Each eligible beneficiary was to get a toll free number where people were to place a call at this phone number and place their order. After placing the ration order, a facilitator was to come at the doorstep to provide ration. It was for the first time that home delivery of ration scheme was to be launched by any state in India. The main objective was to put an end to corruption, to tighten nuckle on ration mafia and to ensure that right persons gets subsidized ration.

Delhi CM Doorstep Delivery of Ration Scheme

Background of Home Delivery of Ration Scheme in Delhi

CM Arvind Kejriwal had announced the launch of Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana on 21 July 2020. CM mentioned that he was feeling excited for the launch of this flagship home delivery of ration scheme in Delhi. He said “Before coming to politics, he and Manish Sisodia were running NGO named “Parivartan”. This organization was working in slums to make people aware of their rights and ensure that each eligible person is entitled to his quota of ration.” In those days, grain robbery was a common phenomenon and poor people were deprived of their ration. In the govt. records, officials make false entry for ration distribution and were indulged in corruption. Through this revolutionary step of Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana, CM wants to address this issue of false distribution of ration to bogus beneficiaries.

Source / Reference Link: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/delhi-govt-extends-free-ration-scheme-till-may-next-year-101640025754490.html

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