New Delhi, June 29 (Agency) The Delhi government has extended the free ration scheme for the beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) till September this year. The proposal was approved unanimously during a meeting of the Delhi Cabinet held on Wednesday citing backbreaking inflation and loss of livelihood in the pandemic, officials said. The meeting was held at the Delhi Secretariat today wherein the Food and Civil Supplies department proposed the extension of the supply of free rations for NFSA beneficiaries for another four months, they added. NFSA beneficiaries include needy people like migrant workers, unorganised workers, construction workers, domestic helpers and those who do not have ration cards.
Under the Delhi Government’s free ration scheme, 5 kg of food grains is provided free of cost to the needy as per the eligibility prescribed under the NFS Act 2013. This includes 4 kg of wheat and 1 kg of rice per person per month. Delhi has 72,77,995 beneficiaries under National Food Security Act, 2013 under Targeted PDS. “Due to the spread of Covid-19 and preventive measures of lockdowns, there was consequent loss of livelihood of citizens. To ameliorate this, Delhi Government has been distributing NFSA ration to all PDS beneficiaries free of cost since April 2020,” a senior official said.