Centre stops Kejriwal’s ration-at-doorstep plan

Arvind Kejriwal’s ration-at-doorstep plan has hit a roadblock just days before its launch, with the centre saying subsidised foodgrain allotted to Delhi under the national Food Security Act cannot be used for this scheme. “The department will have no objection if a separate scheme is made by the (Delhi) government without mixing the elements of the NFSA foodgrains,” the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs said in a note on Friday.

“The use of new nomenclature/scheme name for the distribution of National Food Security Act foodgrain by GNCTD (Delhi Government) is not permissible but this Department will have no objection if a separate scheme is made by the State Government without mixing elements of the National Food Security Act foodgrain,” Food Ministry Joint Secretary S Jagannathan has said in a letter to the Delhi government.

The flagship doorstep ration delivery scheme – ”Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna” – was to be launched by Chief Minister Kejriwal on March 25. The scheme was to start in the Seemapuri area of north-east Delhi’s Shahdara district.

“The central government has stopped doorstep delivery of ration scheme (Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana) of Delhi government, scheduled to be launched on 25th March. Centre said that they provide ration to states under the National Food Security Act so no changes should be made to it,” the Delhi government said in a statement after the centre’s veto.

Mr Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also shared the news on its official Twitter handle and accused the government of helping the ‘ration mafia’.

In his Republic Day address, Mr Kejriwal had said the initiative for doorstep delivery of rations would be a revolutionary step in changing the public distribution system.

Under the scheme, the Delhi government was planning to provide packaged wheat flour, packaged rice and packaged sugar under the Targeted Public Distribution System.