Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday warned PDS shop owners indulging in corrupt practices to mend their ways or face action. launching e-ration service through which people can apply and obtain ration cards and check availability of food grains and their costs, Kejriwal said, said his Government would adopt zero tolerance policy. "We will give a chance to ration distributors to come up with their problem and we will address their issues. We will take strict action against those found flouting rules."
Kejriwal said it was his duty to ensure that every poor gets his food security. He said most of ration cards do not reach eligible holders as they were stocked by ration-card distributors who further misuses them. A Darya Ganj resident, Reshma became the first beneficiary of the e-ration card. Three more women were formally enrolled for the e-cards.
Kejriwal said: “This e-ration card service will give solution to the problem of ration card distribution. As one applies for a ration card, he/she will get an update on mobile and can take out a printed copy of the card.” Recalling his fight against ration mafia, the Chief Minister said the RTI Act was introduced in 2002 and “from 2003 we started working in slums of Nand Nagri, Sundar Nagri, Seemapuri, Harsh Vihar and other areas. We collected details of ration distribution through RTI and found that name of the beneficiary in the register never got ration. We raised this issue with senior officers but no action was taken.”
Kejriwal said: “In three years, our members were attacked seven times. I even got a threat call from a don in Uttar Prdaesh who asked me to back off. We filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the attacks. Now we are in Government and I assure you we will keep working to ensure people get their rights.” A senior Government official said anyone can avail the facility of e-ration card on the Department of Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs website (www.Nfs.Delhi.Gov.In)
In the citizen corner of the portal, a user can apply online for food security. They can also track applications by putting their unique number. Once the verification of user is done then one can get print-out of their e-ration card which will be valid like an e-ticket. “This system will end corrupt practices of holding back ration cards and will ensure that the cards reach the needy and in time,” SS Yadav, Commissioner of the Food and Supply Department, said. The print-out of ration card can also be taken from the offices of Delhi MlAs.
The dynamic website gives live update of number of people who have got food security. Similarly, a user can also check location of nearby Fair Price Shops (FPS) and quantity and rate of rations available at the shops. One can also avail the service through SMS. “An user can check who all are eligible for food security and names of those who have availed the service. Users can also object if they find a non-eligible person is using the services. We have made the data available to the public. This is the most robust, transparent and user friendly portal for food security in the country”, Yadav added.