Refusing the approval of Delhi government’s doorstep delivery of ration scheme, the Centre has argued that it deviates from National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
A letter was sent to Delhi’s food commissioner in which the Centre has said that it cannot permit this proposal in its current form.
The letter was sent on October 8 by the under-secretary to the government of India to the city’s food commissioner.
“It is reiterated that the Delhi government should follow the norms and provisions of NFSA, 2013 in rightful spirit and manner while distributing food grains to the eligible NFSA beneficiaries under TPDS [Targeted Public Distribution System] and it is also conveyed that this department will have no objection if a separate scheme is made by the state government without mixing the elements of the NFSA food grains. It is, therefore, informed that all the statutory provisions of NFSA, 2013 are mandatory, and operation of TPDS as mandated shall be conducted in the manner prescribed under the NFSA, in order to ensure transparent and rightful targeting. The alleged proposal under consideration with the Delhi government for home delivery does not fulfil the norms of NFSA and therefore, is not permissible in its current form by the government of India,” said the letter.
