The CM said in a statement that Delhi high court has cleared the way for implementation of the scheme and the Delhi government will follow the directions given by the high court regarding promotion of the scheme.
The Covid-19 threat is far from over. In this backdrop, the doorstep delivery scheme is a positive health safety initiative. The Delhi government and the lieutenant governor must resolve the issue quickly to ensure that the common citizens are not denied of its benefits.
The CM expressed the hope that the LG would review his decision so that the court’s orders can be followed and doorstep delivery of ration implemented.
The scheme has triggered multiple flashpoints between the LG and the elected government since early 2018. While the government has been pushing the scheme, the LG has denied his approval, citing lack of clearance from the Centre because ration is distributed under the National Food Security Act.
The AAP government has asked that when pizzas, burgers, smartphones and clothes can be delivered at home, then why the poor citizens of Delhi cannot get ration delivered at home. The state government believes this scheme will prove to be a game-changer. It will help in reining in the ration mafia and prevent the theft of ration and oppression of the poor, it feels. “The scheme was rejected by the central government through the LG a week before its launch, but the Centre never opposed the plan in court,” said the AAP government in a statement.
Once the scheme is implemented, the cardholders will not have to stand in long queues and there will be no risk of degradation in quality, adulteration or reduction in quantity. One will not need to pay any convenience fee. It will also eliminate the possibility of theft because the packed ration will be delivered after matching a thumb impression.
Under this scheme, wheat will be picked up from an FCI godown, taken to a mill and converted into flour. Flour, sugar and rice will be packed in a hygienic way.
The AAP government was prepared to launch the scheme in early 2021 but couldn’t do so because of objections raised by the Centre. The Delhi government has dropped the original name, ‘Mukhyamantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna’, in order to make it acceptable to the Centre.
Kejriwal had written to the LG in June this year, pointing out that the matter before him was not one of “approval” as the scheme has already attained finality because the Centre did not object to it and the government had addressed the problem with the name.
Observing that the scheme required the central government’s approval and that a writ petition on the issue had been filed in the high court, the LG had returned the file to the elected government for reconsideration. The LG’s observations put the scheme, which was ready for immediate rollout, on hold. It triggered a major confrontation between the Centre and the AAP government. The CM wrote in the note that it was unfortunate that the scheme had been put on hold due to the LG’s observations.
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