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print versionDelhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan
B-76, Garage, SFS Flats, Sheikh Sarai Phase- 1, New Delhi- 110017 | delhirtf[atgmail.com, 9810273984, 9910009819
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal
Chief Minister
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
May 19, 2021
Dear Mr. Kejriwal,
Subject- Regarding dry rations for those without ration cards
We are writing to you with regard to the announcement made during yesterday’s press conference that Delhi government will soon be bringing a scheme for providing dry rations to people without ration cards. While we welcome this much-needed relief, we are highlighting below some of the key issues which must be kept in mind in the formulation of the scheme to ensure that people in need are able to access the benefits. We are now in the fifth week of the lockdown and the level of distress among daily wagers, residents of slums and migrant workers is absolutely alarming.
1. Accessible registration process- It must be ensured that the procedure for registering for dry grains is simple and accessible. Last year the application process was exclusively through a website causing intense hardship and exclusion till the Delhi High Court on a plea by DRRAA directed setting up of helpdesks. In its order dated 28.5.2020, the Delhi HC noted, “In view of the fact that the beneficiaries belong to the economically distressed section of the society, we are of the opinion that it would be a serious challenge for them to apply for e-coupons at the links provided by the respondent/Delhi government for issuing ration...we are of the view that in the absence of proper Help desks, they would still end up running from pillar to post for generation of e-coupons, which is most unacceptable in the present situation†. Therefore, the government must set up help-desks in low income areas and at distribution points to facilitate registration, in addition to online registration. To prevent further delay in providing ration, walk-in registration must also be allowed at distribution points where people can avail of grains on the spot. Further, there should be no insistence on any particular type of identity proof and for those without any identity or address proof of Delhi such as migrant workers, people living on rent in bastis and homeless persons etc., grains should be distributed on the basis of self-certification. In fact last week, on May 13, in the migrant workers case, the Supreme Court while directing Union of India and governments of Delhi, UP and Haryana to provide dry rations to migrants stated, “the states shall not insist on an identity card for those migrant labourers who do not possess for the time being and on self-declaration made by the stranded migrant labourers dry ration be given to them.â€
2. Decentralised distribution points- It is important that a large number of distribution points be designated all over Delhi for providing foodgrains to non-ration cardholders so that people can reach them easily. In view of the restrictions on movement on account of the lockdown and to prevent exclusion of people because they cannot afford transportation to and from the distribution point, either the network of 2000 ration shops should be used or atleast 3 distribution points should be opened in each municipal ward in Delhi to facilitate access.
3. Provision of dal, oil, sugar, masalas, masks and soap- In addition to dry grains, an essential kit containing dal, oil, sugar and masalas, must be provided to all households. Inclusion of masks and soap in the kit will encourage COVID appropriate practices. Such a kit was provided last year as well and in fact the kit should also be given to ration cardholders to supplement the rice and wheat under PDS.
4. Continued food relief till notification under Disaster Management Act is in force- The government must recognise that economic distress from the pandemic is long lasting and therefore, it must be ensured that distribution of dry rations is continued till such time that the Disaster Management Act is in force. We suggest that COVID ration cards can be issued to all people who register for the scheme and like ration cardholders, they be provided foodgrains every month. It is pertinent to note that most states provide rations to people not covered under the PDS through their own resources. The coverage under the PDS in Delhi is only 37% while atleast 60-70% of the population require assistance to remain food secure as was evident last year, when more than 60 lakh people who do not possess ration cards applied under the e-coupon scheme. At a time of immense crisis, one-time distribution of grains will be woefully inadequate. All evidence points towards a deep economic crisis of job loss, reduced wages and shrinking of the economy and given that the majority of the workforce is in the unorganised sector, continued support will be crucial.
5. Transparency and Grievance Redress- It is crucial that the government ensure transparency in the distribution of grains and effective grievance redress for those who are unable to access the scheme or are facing problems. In terms of transparency, information about the scheme, its procedures and distribution points must be disseminated through multiple modes in such form, manner and language that it is most accessible to people- through websites, boards, public announcements, SMS in Hindi. To enable public monitoring, details of quantity of ration distributed and details of who it was provided to must be placed in the public domain on the government’s website and also at distribution points. Last year, in the DRRAA case, the Delhi HC had directed government to ensure proper oversight and public disclosure of information vide order dated 27.4.2020, which stated, “The GNCTD shall further ensure that the Sub-Divisional Magistrates of each district carry out strict and regular monitoring and oversight of the distribution of food grains, as afore directed and upload the details of shop-wise distribution of ration to both the PDS and non-PDS residents on their official website, at the end of each day.†On grievance redress, the experience with the ration helpline- 1967 and migrant workers helpline- 155214 is rather dismal. It must be ensured that the help-lines are functional, responsive and actually provided assistance and redress to people during this crisis. Now these must also function as hunger helplines, facilitating people in registering for dry grains. As per the high court’s directions last year complaint boxes must be set up at all distribution points and information about the functioning of the grievance redress systems including details of complaints received and action taken therein, should be placed in the public domain.
We urge the government to take these important issues into consideration and immediately start distribution of grains to people without ration cards to prevent incidents of hunger and starvation.
Thank you,
Signed/-
Anjali Bhardwaj, Amrita Johri, Dipa Sinha, Annie Raja, Aakanksha Badkur, Sulekha Singh, Chirashree Ghosh, Rajender Kumar, Pratik, Shakeel, Aysha, Shreya Sen, Aditi Dewedi, Raj Shekhar Singh, Krishna, Sagarika Ghatak, Ashok Kumar, Kailash Bhatt, Amar Bhandari, Neelesh, Shruti Batra, Rushda, Sweta Dash, Deepti Bharti, Nandini Nayak, Shalaka, Gudiya, Ravinder Kumar, Jayshree Satpute, Tripti Poddar, Amreen
