Delhi Government's revolutionary 'doorstep-delivery of ration' plan awaits LG nod
Delhi Government's scheme of doorstep delivery of ration now awaits LG Anil Baijal's approval, after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited him yesterday to ask for his clearance. The Delhi cabinet had already approved the scheme on Tuesday but till the time the LG gives his affirmation, the AAP-led government cannot start implementing the scheme. Kejriwal had also tweeted after the visit.
'Urged him to call me'
Digitalization failed because of faulty e-POS machines
The scheme will ensure delivery of ration in packets at the doorsteps of beneficiaries (read, ration card holders), as against the current situation where people have to personally collect the ration from the fair-price shops. Even the digitalization done just two months ago to contain corruption did not help, because e-POS machines failed to recognize the biometric of a beneficiary many a times.
The challenges that lies ahead for implementing the scheme
This scheme will surely increase the dependence on manpower, who has to deliver ration to beneficiaries, often to the slum areas. The clearance is not that easy either. The commencement of this scheme will entail LG scrapping the previous decision of going digital. There will be a bidding system after which a private company will be chosen for the delivery scheme.
Major transformation of the existing PDS system: Sisodia
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said yesterday that this is a "major transformation of the existing PDS system." The fair price shops are infamous for siphoning off ration, theft and poor quality of functioning. The CM alleged last week that there is a "deep nexus" among bureaucrats and "ration mafia." Delhi has 72 lakh ration card holders and 2,254 fair price shops.
