The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government started the historic ‘Ghar-Ghar Ration Scheme’ (doorstep ration scheme) on Saturday. During the program held in Khanna, Delhi’s CM and AAP’s National Convenor Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab’s CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann launched this scheme with great fervor. During this, packed ration was also distributed among the beneficiaries. In the first phase, 6.36 lakh ration cards have been linked with the scheme, benefiting around 25 lakh people.
During this, Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that we were going to start this scheme in Delhi before, but suddenly the BJP government sitting at the centre stopped it. Today, it’s starting from Punjab. There will come a day when this scheme will be implemented across the country, and no party will have the courage to stop it. Now ration theft will stop in Punjab. Clean-packed flour will be delivered to every household every month, and people will not have to go to the ration shop. During this, Punjab Sardar CM Bhagwant Mann said that today is a historic day for Punjab. Today we have started the ‘Ghar-Ghar Ration Scheme’ (doorstep ration scheme).
During this, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “It’s been 75 years since the country’s independence, and since then, the government has been providing ration to the poor, but the ration does not reach the poor. The poor face difficulties, they repeatedly go to the ration shop, and their ration gets stolen. If 100 kilograms of ration comes from above, then hardly 10-15 kilograms of ration reaches the poor, the rest of the ration is consumed by middlemen, officers, and politicians.”
“Governments of many parties came in 75 years, but ration theft did not stop, even though it could have been stopped, their intention was bad. Leaders of these parties used to steal the ration of the poor. These leaders used to contest elections by stealing the ration and money of the poor. Now, an honest government of the Aam Aadmi Party has come to Punjab. We do not want to steal the ration of the poor, we have come to serve the people,” he added.
The AAP National Convenor stated, “We were very ordinary people, but the public’s love, blessings, and favors are upon us. The public has given us such a big responsibility with their love and blessings. We cannot repay this favor even in seven lifetimes. We keep thinking 24 hours a day about how to do more work for the people. Today, the ‘Ghar-Ghar Ration Scheme’ is beginning from the holy land of Punjab. This is not a small feat. With the launch of this scheme, the black-marketing business worth billions of rupees that was going on in the country is going to be stopped. Now theft of ration will stop inside Punjab. Now, every grain of wheat, which was being snatched from the mouths of your family will go into the stomachs of your children.”
Shri Arvind Kejriwal further added that today a door-to-door ration scheme has been started in Punjab. Till now people used to go to the ration shop. Many times, they found the shop closed or there were long queues. Every month, people had to visit the ration shop 5 to 6 times to get ration and had to take leave from work. When ration shops were open, some ration sellers would even abuse, weigh less ration, give dirty ration and charge more. People were getting less ration than their entitlement. With the launch of this scheme, all this will stop. Now the poor people of Punjab will also eat the same flour which the Chief Minister of Delhi and Punjab eats. Clean and neat flour will be packed in packets and delivered to every home every month. Now you do not need to go to the ration shop, no need to take leave, no need to quarrel with the ration seller. You can take either flour or wheat under the scheme.
The Delhi CM mentioned that they had this dream not just 5 years ago, but 15 years ago. “Before coming into politics, I used to work in the slums of Delhi. When I used to work, I had seen how people’s ration was stolen, the ration dealer does not give ration, and people have to bear the brunt. Since then, we have been fighting the battle,” he said.
Sharing how the Centre put a spoke in the AAP government’s plan, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “It was by the grace of God that we first formed the government in Delhi. When our government was formed in Delhi, we tried to implement the same door-to-door ration scheme in Delhi. It was going to be implemented in Delhi. All preparations had been made. The theft of ration was going to stop even within Delhi and the poor would get their rights. But the BJP-ruled Centre stopped our Delhi plan. They said that this scheme will not be implemented in Delhi, and theft of ration will continue. The rights of the poor will continue to be violated,” he said.
The AAP National Convenor said he felt very sad when he failed to implement the home delivery of ration in Delhi, but God was kind to him and the AAP government came to power in Punjab. “I felt very sad. I wanted to stop the theft of ration, I wanted to give the poor their rights. Then one day, God came into my dream and said ‘Arvind, don’t worry, you are trying to do good work, we will get this ration scheme of yours implemented somewhere’. God has established the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party government was formed and today with the blessings of God, with the blessings of all of you, today, this door-to-door ration scheme is being started in Punjab,” he said.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said that no power on earth can prevent the doorstep delivery of the ration scheme from extending to the rest of the country. “Today, I am telling you that this doorstep delivery of ration scheme which is being started in Punjab is not going to be limited to Punjab. One day, within 5 to 10 years from now, the doorstep delivery scheme will be implemented across the country, and no leader of any party has the courage to stop it in the future. This scheme will be operational in every corner of the country. Now no leader, no party in the country has the courage to steal ration from the poor,” he said.
Comparing the performances of the previous governments in Punjab with two years of the Mann government, the Delhi Chief Minister said, “It has been two years since the Aam Aadmi Party government was formed in Punjab. Mann Saheb has done so much work in these two years. If I ask you today to tell me one good work that has been done in the 75 years during which the Congress and the Akali Dal ruled the state, you will not be able to remember.”
“But if I ask you, what has been in the last two years since Maan Saab became the Chief Minister, then everyone here will say that he made electricity free. Mann Saheb has made everyone’s electricity free and electricity is available 24 hours a day. Earlier, there used to be power cuts of 7 to 8 hours. Maan Saheb fixed the supply of electricity to make it available for 24 hours a day and for free. Where did so much money come from? Everyone’s electricity was made free. There is an honest government, they do not steal, do not indulge in corruption and do not fill their houses like these leaders. Now, that money is spent on your children and your family,” he said.
The AAP National Convenor said besides saving money, the Bhagwant Mann government has created jobs in the government sector in the last two years. “Whenever I used to come to Punjab, I used to roam around with Maan Saheb, I found the employees missing from their duties in Punjab, there were no teachers in the schools, and many employees were found sitting atop water tanks. But now, teachers are teaching in their schools, and employees are working in their offices. Because all their legitimate demands were fulfilled. Maan Saab confirmed over 30000 employees. We have told the employees that we will solve whatever problems they have and we serve the public. We have also cautioned them not to take bribes or indulge in corruption. Today, there is a glut of jobs in Punjab. In two years, over 42000 people have been given government jobs. They (parties that ruled Punjab in the past) would not have given 42000 jobs in 75 years. Both the parties together would not have provided the 42,000 jobs that Mann Saab provided in two years,” he said.
Shri Arvind Kejriwal said jobs are also being created in the private sector as investors from overseas as well as within the country are setting up their units here. “Ever since our government came to power, corruption has decreased significantly. Now so much industry is coming from outside of New Zealand, from Australia, Switzerland, from Germany, everyone is saying that they want to invest money in Punjab. The second largest plant of Tata Steel is being built in Ludhiana. Lakhs of jobs are being created for your children and I think within a year or two, there will be no shortage of jobs for your children, everyone will be provided with jobs somewhere or the other,” he said.
Highlighting the welfare measures taken by the AAP government in Punjab, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “So many mohalla clinics have been opened all over Punjab where all medicines are free, all tests are free, doctors are free. Now all the hospitals are being improved by the government, all the medicines and tests will be free in all the hospitals. This has been done in many hospitals and is also being done in others. All the schools in Punjab are being repaired,” he said.
Appealing to the people to extend their support to the AAP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Shri Arvind Kejriwal said, “You blessed us two years ago. You gave 92 seats out of 117 to the AAP in the assembly elections and created history in Punjab. Today, I have come to seek one more blessing from you. After two months in the Lok Sabha elections, ensure victory of the AAP candidates in all 13 seats in Punjab and one seat in Chandigarh. Within the next 10 to 15 days, Aam Aadmi Party will announce its candidates for these 14 seats. Now you are requested to ensure victory of AAP candidates on all 14 seats in the same manner as you did two years ago. You must vote on the broom (AAP election symbol), and you must sweep with an overwhelming majority. You must make the Aam Aadmi Party win 14 out of 14 seats. By doing this, you will strengthen our hands. The more you strengthen our hands, the more we will work with zeal. We don’t need anything, you have given us a lot, a lot of love, a lot of blessings. We will serve you all our life, just keep giving us strength and we do not wish for anything else.”
AAP do not engage in politics of religion, caste, and hatred, we do politics of work: Sardar Bhagwant Mann
Before this, Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann said that it is a historic day for Punjab, today we have started the doorstep ration scheme. Whoever wants wheat can take wheat. Fresh flour will be available to those who want to buy flour. The quality of flour with which rotis are made in our homes, that same quality of flour will now be available to the poor as well. The Aam Aadmi Party emerged from the ideology of Shri Arvind Kejriwal, and these schemes are also part of this ideology. “We do not do politics of religion, caste, and hatred, but we do politics of work. The party whose beginning we started in Ramleela Ground in Delhi, today every person of Punjab is benefiting from it. The Arvind Kejriwal government has faced many challenges and has built Mohalla Clinics, Schools of Excellence, and excellent government hospitals in Delhi. Learning from this, we started providing all these facilities in Punjab,” he added.
The Punjab government will inaugurate the private thermal power plant that it has purchased on Sunday: Sardar Bhagwant Mann
CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann said that in Punjab, every other day, someone gets good news. Now people are getting jobs, free ration, and the elderly are being sent on pilgrimage. The condition of NOC for registration has ended. The dream of ‘Rangla Punjab’ (vibrant Punjab) that we had seen has now started to come true. The people of Punjab are adding new colors to it. In the coming times, we will make Punjab the number one state in the country. Today, Punjab ranks first in terms of greenery in schools and Sangrur district of Punjab is in first place. Today, libraries are being set up for children in every village. Tomorrow, the 540-megawatt private thermal power plant purchased by the Punjab government in Goindwal Sahib will be inaugurated. The name of that power plant has been kept in the name of Shri Guru Amar Das. Coal will come to this power plant from the Punjab government’s four coal mines. This will also make electricity cheaper for companies. 24-hour and free electricity is reaching every village in Punjab. Now the farmers are not forced to give water to their fields at night. Due to the availability of 24-hour electricity, it is now possible to give water to the fields even during the day. Earlier, electricity used to come in the middle of the night and farmers had to give water to the fields at night even in winter.
Our government is stopping corruption and spending all tax money on the people: Sardar Bhagwant Mann
CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann said that major companies like Markfed and Verka have been running losses for the past several years due to a lack of attention. Verka is being started in Delhi. The Verka office will open there, which will increase the income of farmers by saving dairy products. After this, it will be started again in Bengal. We have to bring Verka into profit. This directly benefits farmers. We work for the benefit of the people. Our government has not even been in Punjab for two years yet, and more than 40,000 people have got government jobs. Now people are getting jobs without bribery and recommendations. Big companies like Tata Steel and Sintex Textiles have come to Punjab. The Punjab government is encouraging these companies to come so that more and more employment opportunities can be created for the youth. We have stopped corruption and eliminated leaks. Now tax money goes to the government’s account, which is spent on the people.
The entire Punjab witnessed the scam in the Chandigarh Mayor elections, and the BJP government at the center has been obstructing all our work: Sardar Bhagwant Mann
CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann said that in the next 10 to 15 days, we will announce the names of all 13 candidates from Punjab and Chandigarh for the Lok Sabha elections. We will win all 14 seats. Our candidates will come from among you. They know all the scams in the Chandigarh Mayor elections, and we will also win in the Lok Sabha from Chandigarh. Their LGs obstruct our work in Delhi and Punjab, the central government stops the money for our schemes. Governments across the country where there is no BJP government are being troubled. The BJP’s treatment of Punjab farmers cannot be forgotten, many of our farmers have died. In the Congress, leaders keep fighting among themselves. Today, the Aam Aadmi Party is the only party that works for you; together, we will make Punjab number one.
CM Arvind Kejriwal met beneficiaries, and distributed packed rations himself
During this time, Delhi CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Sardar Bhagwant Mann met with ration beneficiaries and distributed rations to them personally. During this, the CM asked the beneficiaries if they had faced any difficulties in receiving rations so far. In response, the beneficiaries said that they used to face difficulties in getting rations. Many times, the shops were not open, and sometimes they received less ration. Beneficiaries’ faces lit up upon receiving rations from the CM’s hands. Praising the government’s work, the beneficiaries said that now they won’t have to stand in lines to get rations. This will save them time and money as well.
With full transparency, PDS (Public Distribution System) beneficiaries will receive the full ration at home
The implementation of the scheme will create employment opportunities for more than 1500 youth. These young people will work as managers, drivers, and delivery agents at the M-FPS stores. Through this scheme, people in urban and rural areas will be able to receive rations through clean and organized model fair price shops. According to the figures of the National Food Security Act, there are ration cards for 37.98 lakh families in Punjab, benefiting 1.46 crore people. To deliver rations to the people, a total of 20,500 fair price shops and 13,289 FPS are operating. Markfed is establishing 800 model FPSs. In addition to this, in the first phase, 6.36 lakh ration cards and 25 lakh beneficiaries will be added to the M-FPS. Prior to this, the Punjab government has already started doorstep delivery of government services in Ludhiana on December 10th. After this, there is no need for people to go to government offices to get birth and death certificates, income certificates, caste certificates, marriage registrations, etc. Now, this facility will be available at home upon making a phone call.
The initiative for last-mile Delivery of Ration would further strengthen the Government of Punjab’s resolve to ease the life of the citizens and stop leakages/corruption in the ration.
Brief on the Process:
I). Beneficiary will be informed of the delivery of ration in his village in advance through SMS.
II). No cost of conversion of wheat into Atta/ delivery shall be charged from the beneficiary.
III). Ration shall be distributed on a monthly basis, which will eliminate any storage/expiry issues. Citizens will have the choice to opt for packaged wheat or Atta in 5 Kg or 10 Kg Packets.
IV). Toll-Free Number for any help/ grievance/ feedback- 1100.
V). MARKFED is currently setting up 800 Model-Fair Price Shops. 600+ shops are ready. The remaining 200+ shops will be ready very soon to serve the citizens of Punjab.
VI). Advanced ePoS devices with integrated weighing scales shall help in ensuring transparency in the delivery of ration.
Impact:
I). Will save the daily wages of the poor person who spends the entire day in line and the time and effort to get ration
II). This scheme will help in controlling Pilferage, and other malpractices such as hoarding by middlemen, hence uninterrupted delivery of ration.
III). This scheme will generate direct employment for approximately 1500+ youth as M-FPS shop managers, drivers and delivery agents.
IV). This scheme will enhance the experience of the beneficiaries through neat, clean and well-maintained Model-Fair Price Shops in urban and rural areas.
