In AAP-ruled Delhi, 20% of ration shops non-operational, 65 % don’t have volunteers, says report

Even as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-ruled Delhi has emerged as a hotbed of COVID-19, recording an unprecedented surge in numbers of patients, it has come to the light that the ration distribution system in Delhi has been severely hit by the poor administration.

According to an audit report released by the Delhi Rozi Roti Adhiykar Abhiyan (DRRAA) – a network of groups and individuals working on the right to food in Delhi – 20 per cent of ration shops inspected by it were found to be non-operational during the lockdown.

Further, as per the report, 65 % of the shops did not have civil defence volunteers, representatives of the MLA or police personnel present there, as mandated by the government.

“Five out of the 28 schools designated for foodgrain distribution based on e-coupons were found to be shut,” claimed the report.

“While the government had ordered that distribution of ration for June will commence from June 1 in a graded or staggered manner, no shop-wise or area-wise schedule of distribution was publicly available indicating the exact date on which people could start availing rations. Due to the ensuing confusion, DRRAA volunteers found hundreds of people gathered at ration shops even though the government had not yet allowed shops to commence distribution,” reads the report.

The report claimed that out of the 51 ration shops inspected by the DRRAA, 10 were closed during working hours. Additionally, 34 of the 51 shops did not display category-wise entitlement of rations, despite government orders. However, the figure was an improvement from the May 5 report where 34% of the shops were found to be non-functional.

The Delhi High Court had directed the AAP government to ensure that all ration shops remain operational during working hours and to ensure that food grains are provided to all in May, while hearing a petition by DRRAA.