Objecting to Nomenclature, Centre Stops Delhi Govt's Pet Ration Scheme; AAP Hits Back In a fresh round of tussle between the...

Objecting to Nomenclature, Centre Stops Delhi Govt's Pet Ration Scheme; AAP Hits Back

In a fresh round of tussle between the AAP and Centre, the Delhi government’s ambitious doorstep delivery of ration to beneficiaries, set to be operationalised from March 25, has hit a roadblock with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution denying permission for it just days before the roll-out.

The scheme is called the ‘mukhya mantri ghar ghar ration yojana’. The objection raised by the Centre is the change in the nomenclature of the AAP government’s scheme for the doorstep delivery of ration under the targeted public distribution system of the scheme. On March 19, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs Joint Secretary S Jagganathan wrote to Ms Padmini Singla, Secretary and Commissioner, Food and Civil Supplies Department, Government of NCT, Delhi. He raised three points and denied permission to the AAP government to go ahead with the scheme as planned.

The Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government had planned to launch the scheme with 100 households in Seemapuri, East Delhi. The doorstep delivery of ration is a scheme reportedly close to Kejriwal’s heart, with his own work at the grassroots-level.

The central government, however, has made it clear that a state specific ration scheme cannot draw upon the benefits of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). In the March 19 letter, Jagganathan referred to the notification of the AAP government issued on February 20, for the implementation of a ‘state specific scheme’ MMGGRA for doorstep delivery of ration under the Targeted Public Distribution System.