Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal has rejected the Delhi Government's proposal for doorstep delivery of ration, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said and alleged that the important measure taken by the Government to deliver ration to the doorstep, has fallen victim to petty politics.
Kejriwal said that he had repeatedly requested the L-G to give him an audience before taking a decision but the Lt Governor did not do so.
"The government has been consistently receiving complaints about ration beneficiaries not getting their ration entitlements as per law. There are deep vested interests who have always tried to scuttle any systemic reforms in PDS. There is a collusion between vested interests and certain sections of bureaucracy who do not wish that any reform in PDS should take place", an official statement issued by the Chief Minister's office stated on Wednesday.
"Doorstep Delivery of ration is a revolutionary concept. It was conceived a few months back and has been widely discussed. It has been hailed by all experts as well as the public. Therefore, it should be the endeavour of all of us to make it successful", it further said.
"The hon'ble LG has further stated proposed system of doorstep delivery will only replace one set of human intervention with the other. The government is of the firm view that the transparent system of doorstep delivery will replace the current opaque system of ration distribution. Currently ration is sold as an open item, whereas doorstep delivery will ensure sealed and packaged ration with no scope for adulteration or weighing problems.
Delhi Government has already rejected Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) which the LG has termed as a better option. "Delhi government has already rejected the DBT and the considered decision of the elected government is final. (Further cash transfer is prone to misuse and poses a real threat that families may not get ration from the money provided to them). An expenditure of Rs 250 crore will be incurred annually on home delivery of ration", it added.
Earlier this month, the Delhi Cabinet had approved the proposal for delivering rations in sealed packets at the doorstep to PDS beneficiaries.
Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said, "V sad that Hon'ble LG has rejected doorstep delivery of ration scheme. I had repeatedly requested him to give me an audience before taking a decision but he did not (sic).
"Feeling really really sad that such imp proposals are becoming victims of petty politics."
The proposal advocates providing doorstep delivery of wheat/flour, rice and sugar for eligible beneficiaries. According to a government official, there are around 72 lakh PDS beneficiaries in the city.
After the Cabinet's decision, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said that attempts were made to put roadblocks in the passage of the scheme, adding that he would request the L-G to consider it keeping in mind the poor residents of Delhi and pass it.
"Theft of ration, poor quality of supplies and shops remaining closed were the major issues that residents were facing and the implementation of this new scheme would put an end to these harassments," Sisodia said.