After successful launch of doorstep scheme, govt eyes home delivery of ration

NEW DELHI: After doorstep delivery of services, the next two projects in the eye of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are CCTV installation and home delivery of ration. "I hope we will be able to overcome all hurdles and soon home delivery of ration will also become a reality," said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi government on Tuesday approved an outgo of Rs 571 crore for the installation of CCTV cameras across the national Capital to enable the much-delayed pet project of CM Kejriwal gets going. The Public Works Department (PWD) in an approval note issued last week has said no cost escalation would be considered for the project. The Deputy Secretary PWD in the September 5 note said that the department has given "administrative approval and expenditure sanctions of Rs 571.40 crore, of which Rs 320.96 crore is the capital cost and Rs 250.44 crore is for five years for supplying, installation, testing and commissioning of CCTV cameras and other allied infrastructure at various places in Delhi."

Meanwhile, the Delhi government also approved a proposal to start home or doorstep delivery of ration under the targeted Public Distribution System (PDS) to all beneficiaries, announced Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The decision was taken following a meeting of the Cabinet chaired by Kejriwal. The move allows home delivery of ration, including wheat flour, rice, and sugar, in sealed packets under the National Food Security Act, 2013.

The proposal, the Delhi government said, is aimed at providing a higher level of transparency in the delivery system through inbuilt online monitoring, which will weed out corruption and diversion of foodgrain, and intends to "save time and resources of ration beneficiaries in Delhi".

"Theft of ration, poor quality of supplies and closed shops were the major issues that residents were facing, and the implementation of this new scheme would put an end to these," Delhi government officials earlier noted.

After the huge response of the doorstep delivery of services scheme, the government has increased the work on these two schemes.