Centre denise permission to Delhi govt's ration delivery scheme

The Centre has denied the Delhi government permission to deliver ration to people’s doorsteps yet again, saying it does not fulfil norms set by the National Food Security Act (NFSA) under which food grain is provided to states by the Centre for distribution.

AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that it is a clear case of collusion between the BJP and the ration mafia.

“It is reiterated that the Delhi government should follow the norms and provisions of NFSA, 2013 in rightful spirit and manner while distributing food grains to the eligible NFSA beneficiaries under TPDS [Targeted Public Distribution System] and it is also conveyed that this department will have no objection if a separate scheme is made by the state government without mixing the elements of the NFSA food grains. It is, therefore, informed that all the statutory provisions of NFSA, 2013 are mandatory, and operation of TPDS as mandated shall be conducted in the manner prescribed under the NFSA, in order to ensure transparent and rightful targeting. The alleged proposal under consideration with the Delhi government for home delivery does not fulfil the norms of NFSA and therefore, is not permissible in its current form by the government of India,” said the letter sent by the under-secretary to the government of India to the city’s food commissioner on October 8.

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The AAP dispensation had on Tuesday sent the file on the doorstep ration delivery scheme to Lt Governor Anil Baijal for his approval for the third time after the Delhi High Court last week allowed the government to conditionally implement it.

Government sources said that the Centre has sent a communication to the Delhi government's Food and Supplies Department asking it "not to go ahead" with the scheme.

According to the AAP party, the Delhi government's scheme will prevent theft of ration and oppression of the poor, and eliminate the ration mafia.

The Delhi government has been at loggerheads with the L-G and the Centre over the implementation of its ambitious scheme, which was initially named 'Mukhyamantri Ghar-Ghar Ration Yojana', for a long time.

(With inputs from ANI)