Start door delivery of ration to needy, Centre tells states
New Delhi, June 29: Even as the Centre is yet to clear the Delhi government's proposal on door delivery of subsidised foodgrain, it told the states on Friday to implement a similar programme to prevent starvation deaths.
Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan asked the states to deliver ration to the doors of PDS beneficiaries unable to visit Fair Price Shops (FPS).
Addressing a gathering of state Food and Civil Supplies Ministers, Paswan said: "We do not want any deaths due to starvation. Those who are incapable of going to FPS should get ration at their doors. Assign your staff for delivery.
"If you cannot carry out door delivery, ask the beneficiaries to assign someone to receive the ration on their behalf."
An 11-year-old girl in Jharkhand's Simdega district had allegedly died of starvation last year as her family did not get foodgrain from the PDS shop as their ration card was not linked with the Aadhaar card.
Paswan said that about 81 crore persons in the country were getting foodgrain at subsidised rates -- rice at Rs 3 per kg, wheat at Rs 2 per kg and coarse grains at Re 1 per kg -- which will remained unchanged till 2019.
"We have issued guidelines to the states. We have told them that there should not be any death due to starvation. The central government spends a huge sum of money to give up to 90 per cent subsidy on foodgrain," he told reporters later.
Paswan said that he welcomed the Delhi government's plan to deliver ration at the door of intended beneficiaries but expressed concern about the FPS dealers.
"It is a good thing that they want to deliver ration at the doors. But what will happen to FPS dealers? If other states want to do it, it is welcome as we will be happy that the poor get ration at their homes," he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had this month held a protest at the Lieutenant Governor's office over the "rejection" of the door delivery of ration scheme.
Paswan also said that sugarcane arrears had come down after the government took some measures, including a Rs 7,000 crore relief package to the sugar sector.
Cane arrears had increased to Rs 22,654 crore as of June 1.
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Guarantee schemes model for empowering poor, Cong will return to power in 2028: Siddaramaiah
Mangaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed confidence that the Congress government would return to power in the state in 2028.
He asserted that the five guarantee schemes introduced in 2023 have become a model for empowering the underprivileged, women, the unemployed and economically weaker sections, not just in the state but in the entire country.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating a Kambala event at Muduru-Paduru in Bantwal taluk of Dakshina Kannada district, he said the welfare measures reflected the vision of the Congress government to strengthen social and economic democracy.
"The five guarantees were introduced with the sole objective of empowering the poor, marginalised and weaker sections of society. These schemes have now become a model for ensuring social and economic justice," he said.
Siddaramaiah said democracy should not remain confined to political representation alone but must also ensure social and economic empowerment.
"A democracy that is only political has little meaning unless it is socially and economically vibrant," he said, adding that the state government was working towards that goal.
The CM also praised senior Congress leader and former minister B Ramanath Rai, who organised the event, describing him as one of the most honest leaders and recalling his role in bringing developmental works worth about Rs 5,000 crore to the constituency during his tenure as MLA and minister.
Despite his contributions, Rai had lost the Assembly election from Bantwal, Siddaramaiah said, expressing hope that he would contest again from the constituency in 2028 and secure victory.
He also lauded the people of the coastal region for preserving traditional cultural practices and organising Kambala races, terming the slush track buffalo race a popular folk sport of the state.
