Doorstep Delivery of Ration – on hold
In Jul 2020, the AAP Delhi government cleared the proposal for the revolutionary doorstep delivery of ration scheme.
“Under the scheme, wheat, flour, rice and sugar packed hygienically in bags will be delivered to the doorstep of people. Implementing it will take six to seven months as it involves tendering, appointing consultants and other formalities. Taking ration from a PDS shop will be optional.” – Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM
This scheme would have ended the corruption in the ration distribution system.
However, it has not yet been rolled out as the Centre has rejected the scheme.
Dry Ration in lieu of Midday Meal Scheme:
As the schools shut down due to the pandemic, the Delhi government school students were not getting the mid-day meal. The Kejriwal government provided dry ration kits to students of classes Nursery to class 10 enrolled in all government, government-aided, and MCD schools for 6 months starting Dec 2020.
More details in “Education” sector.
Ration under ONORC
As of 4th October 2021, over 1.43 Lakh ration card holders of other states had collected foodgrains in Delhi in the preceding 3 months (between July and Sep 2021) under the “One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC)” scheme.
“Delhi is among the top performing states in this category.” – Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Imran Hussain
- The AAP govt implemented the ONORC scheme in July 2021.
- Delhi has 17.77 lakh ration cardholders and around 72.78 lakh beneficiaries.
- Delhi has over 2,000 fair price shops.
“We have successfully been able to distribute over 92 per cent ration every month since the ePoS system was restarted in July. In July, ration distribution through ePoS was 92 per cent, in August, it was nearly 93 per cent and in September, it was nearly 95 per cent.” – Imran Hussain, Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister
Ration during the Covid pandemic
(Source: Status Report of Outcome Budget 2020-2021)
In 2020-2021, during the pandemic, free dry ration were given including to those without ration cards (e.g. migrant workers).
- 71 lakh ration card holders received these ration from Apr to Nov 2020
- 60.4 lakh non-PDS people were given 4 kg wheat and 1 kg rice free of cost, in Apr and May 2020
Also, 26 lakh people (including ration card holders) were given a one-time kit of 8 essential items – oil, chole, sugar, salt, haldi, dhania, mirch, soap.
Hunger Relief Centres during the pandemic
The Delhi government set up 1914 hunger relief centres at govt schools during the pandemic lockdown period in 2020. These centres were operational for 3 months and provided, at its peak, cooked meals twice a day to over 10 lakh people.
(Source: Status Report of Outcome Budget 2020-2021)
Tweet by CMO Delhi
