NEW DELHI: The food ministry has turned down the Delhi government’s proposal for doorstep delivery of ration allocated under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) flagging shortcomings and concerns over likely operational difficulties, transparency and ensuring uninterrupted supply to poor who either shift their residence frequently or don’t have permanent addresses.
Responding to a letter from the Delhi government dated June 15, the Union ministry on Tuesday said the “proposal doesn’t meet the statutory and functional requirement of the NFSA and so the proposal cannot be accepted.” The Delhi government has proposed the scheme on “Door-step Delivery of Ration (wheat, flour, rice and sugar) under TPDS” whereas under the NFSA wheat, rice and coarse grain are distributed to the identified beneficiaries.
The ministry has pointed out that the proposal doesn’t indicate the issue price of flour and packaged rice, and whether there will be any additional charge on beneficiaries.
It said since making flour involves milling, processing, packing and additional transportation there will be additional financial implications for the poor.
Though under NFSA flour at higher price can be distributed, but that has to be notified and consent of beneficiaries is mandatory.
The ministry said it’s not clear whether the government has taken consent from beneficiaries.
It has also flagged how under the proposed scheme, at the beginning of the financial year, the beneficiaries will need to give the option for door step delivery or to get ration from ration shops.
The ministry said it’s not clear whether they will be allowed to opt out in between.
It has also claimed that there is no mechanism for maintaining or updating the address of the beneficiaries considering that the poor and tenants often keep shifting their addresses.
The ministry has said unrestricted reach of foodgrain vehicles and delivery to beneficiaries living in multi-storey buildings is another concern.
Moreover, coordination with daily wagers and labourers for timely delivery is another area of concern.
The Union ministry has flagged how there is no information on how leakages, diversions and availability of the right quantity and quality of foodgrains will be ensured.