Delhi BJP president Vijay Goel on Sunday attacked the Congress Government for creating unnecessary confusion in the public distribution system through the new food security scheme.
Mr. Goel was addressing a public rally at Mustafabad. He said instead of increasing food security, the new scheme has only added to insecurities at a time when people have been hit by sharp rise in the prices of all essential commodities, especially vegetables.
“Poor families are not getting forms for the food security scheme; forms are being sold in black ranging from Rs. 50 to Rs. 200 each. Touts are having a field day as people are being hassled for filling up and submission of forms. There is complete confusion and chaos about the eligibility criteria for getting rations now — whether it is with respect to the smart card, Aadhaar card or ration card,” he said.
The BJP leader said people have been left confused by the plethora of cards that have come into circulation. “There are so many cards now — Aadhaar card, ration card, smart card etc. — but no cheap ration. A number of people are also complaining of extremely poor quality of food grains,” Mr. Goel said.
He said this confusion is taking place when the prices of certain vegetables such as onion and tomatoes have shot up. “The new food security scheme has thus hit the poor the hardest. They are left at the mercy of officials, even as food grains meant for them are being swindled away and sold in the open market. With more than 50 per cent of posts in the Food and Civil Supplies Department lying vacant and there being less than 2,500 fair-price shops in the city, the Congress Government has made a complete mess of the food security scenario.”
Mr. Goel said: “Under the food security scheme implemented by the Delhi Government, only 5 kg of grains per person per household are allocated, whereas the earlier PDS schemes allocated at least 35 kg of cheap food grains to each family. Thus a family of five which was getting 35 kg food grains earlier will in fact get only 25 kg food grains. This impels a greater insecurity for poorer families.”
