New Delhi: Food & Civil Supplies Minister of Government of Delhi, Shri Imran Hussain conducted an inspection in Wazirpur, Model Town and ballimaran constituency with MLA Sh. Rajesh Gupta and MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi respectively at the Designated Distribution Centre (School) in 07 Delhi Government schools to check the distribution of food grains to the non-PDS beneficiaries during emergent situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Officers of the Food Supplies Department accompanied Food & Civil Supplies Minister during the inspection. He declared that Delhi Government has started distributing 5 kg food grains (4kg wheat and 1kg rice) per person, free of cost, to non-PDS beneficiaries who don’t have ration cards. He added that the Non-PDS ration is being distributed from designated Schools from 10 AM to 4 PM with weekly off on Sunday. Shri Hussain then said that Fair Price Shops are open on all seven days to provide free of cost ration to the NFS beneficiaries from 9 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 7 pm. without any weekly off.
During the inspection, Food & Civil Supplies Minister found smooth and orderly distribution of food grains to the non-PDS beneficiaries at the Designated Distribution Centre at Schools . Hon’ble Minister directed that the Civil Defence Volunteers deputed by Delhi Government at School should coordinate and manage the queues of beneficiaries cordially and efficiently. . Beneficiaries were seen wearing face masks and complying with social distancing norms while obtaining rations.
Sh. Imran Hussain informed that Delhi Government has started distributing 5 kg of food grains (4kg wheat and 1kg rice) per person, free of cost, to non-PDS beneficiaries who don’t possess ration cards, including unorganized workers, migrant workers, building and construction workers, domestic help are eligible to receive food grains under this relief initiative of the Delhi Government. This distribution is being carried out from one school in each of 280 Wards of Delhi.
Shri Imran Hussain said that Delhi Government has procured the best quality food grains from FCI, If the grain of any sack is found to be defective, it should be separated and not be distributed to any of the beneficiaries. He further directed the FSOs to keep a close watch on the distribution process otherwise strict action will be taken against concerned officers.
The Non- PDS ration is being distributed from designated Schools from 10 AM to 4 PM with weekly off on Sunday. Each school identified for distribution of non-PDS ration has been provided login id and password for entering the stock received in the system for proper record keeping and for the purpose of registration at the site and for distribution.
Food & Civil Supplies Minister also interacted with beneficiaries. The people who had come for getting ration expressed satisfaction with the operation and management of food grain distribution of 5 kg of food grains per person undertaken by Delhi Government for non-PDS beneficiaries who do not possess any ration card during the lockdown due to COVID-19. Sh. Imran Hussain assured that ration is available in sufficient quantity and beneficiaries should not panic in obtaining their ration. They should follow social distancing and other prescribed norms and they may visit the FPSs/Designated Distribution Centres for obtaining ration/food grain.
Sh. Imran Hussain, Hon’ble Minister appreciated the active role being played by public representatives particularly all the Hon’ble MLAs of Delhi who are dedicatedly helping the needy people in reaching to the Distribution Centres and are also actively coordinating with Food & Civil Supplies Department, Schools for distribution of foodgrains. He further informed that Hon’ble MLAs are also visiting several non- PDS Foodgrain Distribution Centres.
He further informed that non PDS Distribution Centres have been opened by Delhi Government in addition to FPSs which open daily from 9am to 1pm and from 3pm to 7pm without any weekly off, in order to provide ration free of cost to the NFSA beneficiaries under NFSA and PMGKAY.
In Delhi, under the Public Distribution System (PDS) covered by the National Food Security Act 2013, NFS beneficiaries under the PR and PRS category are provided with 5kg of foodgrain every month under regular entitlement, including 4 kg of wheat and 1 kg of rice. Regular entitlement under the AAY category is 25 kg wheat per household, 10 kg rice per household and 1 kg sugar per household. Cost fixed for entitlement is @ Rs.2 per kg for wheat, Rs.3 per kg for rice and Rs. 13.50 per kg for sugar, which is not being charged from the NFS beneficiaries (including AAY beneficiaries) while obtaining the ration for the months of May 2021 and June 2021.
In addition to this, each PDS beneficiary (PR, PRS and AAY) is entitled for 5 kg of foodgrain per month including 4 kg of wheat and 1 kg of rice free of cost for May 2021 and June 2021 under PMGKAY. Thus, each beneficiary under PR and PRS category is getting a total of 10 kg foodgrain i.e. 8 kg wheat and 2 kg rice free of cost per month for May 2021 and June 2021. Each AAY household, in addition to the regular entitlement of 25 kg wheat and 10 kg rice per month is additionally getting 4 kg wheat and 1 kg rice per member of the AAY household, free of cost per month for May 2021 and June 2021.
