Won’t do away with fair price shops, Delhi Govt tells HC

• The Delhi Government on Monday defended before the Delhi High Court its scheme for doorstep delivery of ration, saying that it was optional and beneficiaries could opt out any time.
• The Centre has been opposing the Delhi Government’s ration delivery scheme on the ground that the State cannot mitigate the architecture of the NFSA while implementing it.
• On November 15, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain the Centre’s plea against the Delhi High Court order directing the Delhi government not to stop or curtail the supply of foodgrains or flour to fair price shops.

• The High Court had on September 27 directed the Delhi Government to issue communications to all the fair price shop dealers informing them of the particulars of ration cardholders who have opted to receive their rations at the doorstep.
• It had said only thereafter, the fair price shops dealers are not required to be supplied with the ration of the PDS beneficiaries who have opted for doorstep delivery.

Arguments of Delhi Goverment

• The Delhi Government, represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, submitted that the State is not seeking to do away with FPS.
• The senior advocate also called the petition filed by Delhi Sarkari Ration Dealers Sangh challenging the Delhi Government’s scheme for doorstep delivery, Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojna, as “nothing but proxy litigation set up by somebody else who is not the petitioner”.
• Mr. Singhvi argued that States like Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka’s Bengaluru have identical doorstep delivery schemes.
• He said with the march of technology, doorstep delivery becomes the norm, and this is something that needs applause and not criticism.

Arguments of Central Goverment

• Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Centre, said the court should not allow any State to interfere with the structure of National Food Security Act (NFSA) and destroy its architecture.
• The Centre has been opposing the Delhi Government’s ration delivery scheme on the ground that the State cannot mitigate the architecture of the NFSA while implementing it.

National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA)

• The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was introduced by the Government of India in 2013.
• It is responsible for the provision of subsidized food grains to upto 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population of all states and Union Territories (UTs).
• The enactment of the NFSA marks a watershed in the approach to food security from welfare to a rights-based approach.

Notified on: 10th September, 2013.

Objective:

• To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.

Coverage:

• 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
• Overall, NFSA caters to 67% of the total population.

Eligibility:

• Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, according to guidelines by the State government.
• Households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

Provisions:

• 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
• The existing AAY household will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month.
• Meal and maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after the child birth.
• Meals for children upto 14 years of age.
• Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
• Setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms at the district and state level.