Poor people will continue to get free ration in Delhi: CM Arvind Kejriwal

Ground Report | New Delhi: Poor people in Delhi; Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that the government scheme to provide free ration has been extended by six months till May 2022.

Giving information about this announcement on Twitter, he said, "Inflation has become very high. The common man is finding it difficult to even get bread for two times. Due to Corona, many have become unemployed. Please extend this scheme for another six months. Delhi government is extending its free ration scheme for six months."

Arvind Kejriwal's statement came a day after Sudhanshu Pandey, Food Secretary to the Government of India, said that there is currently no proposal to extend the free ration program being given under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana after November 30. (Poor people in Delhi)

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"Inflation is at its peak. The common man is unable to even afford food two times a day. Many people have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Prime Minister, please extend the scheme of giving free ration to the poor for six months. Extend it. Delhi government is extending its free ration scheme for another six months,” he said in a tweet in Hindi.

Kejriwal's remarks Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said that the Center has no proposal for distribution of free ration beyond November 30 through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). Delhi government distributes free ration to the beneficiaries under the National Food Security. Act (NFSA), 2013 and PMGKAY. The city has over 2,000 fair-price shops, 17.77 lakh ration cardholders, and around 72.78 lakh beneficiaries.

The free ration is given in addition to the subsidized food grains distributed to them through ration shops. PMGKAY was launched in March last year to address the crisis caused by COVID-19. Initially, the scheme was launched for April-June last year but was later extended to November 30.

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According to the news agency PTI, the Delhi government distributes free ration to the beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

There are more than two thousand PDS shops in the city of Delhi from which 17.77 lakh ration card holders get benefits. In Delhi, 72.78 lakh people get the facility of fair-price shops. Free ration and food grains gave under the subsidy scheme are distributed through these ration shops.

Due to the difficulties faced by the poor people due to the Corona epidemic, the Central Government had started the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in the month of March last year. Initially, this scheme was for the period from April to June but later it was increased to 30 November.

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