Petition In Delhi High Court Seeks Emergency Rations And Food Supply For People Without Ration Cards In view of Covid

Delhi Rozi-Roti Adhikar Abhiyan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking directions on the Delhi Government to resume its scheme of providing dry rations under the Mukhya Mantri Corona Sahayta Yojna (MMCSY) scheme, or any other scheme designed for the poor and needy persons ensure that they don't go hungry in view of the covid 19 pandemic and fresh restrictions issued in the national capital.

The Delhi Government had announced a complete lockdown in the Capital, starting Monday (April 19, 10 PM) night until Monday (April 26, 6 AM) morning. 

The petition, filed by Advocate Prasanna S, highlights that in view of the second wave and fresh restrictions issued by the Delhi Government, the petitioner had written to the GNCTD urging the it provide free hot cooked meals through homeless shelters and relief centres to the needy and for universalising the PDS system by providing ration to all those in need of food security irrespective of whether they possess a ration card or not.

Furthermore, it was urged that the provisions of food security under the National Food Security Act, including Mid-Day Meal scheme (MDM), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and hot cooked meal for pregnant and lactating women through Anganwadis should continue without any disruption during this time of crisis. 

Highlighting that the Delhi Government imposed strict restrictions on 19th April, the petition states thus:

"With tighter restrictions, lockdowns and curfews on the anvil, it has therefore become imperative that immediate and urgent directions are needed to alleviate the suffering both in the short term and in the medium term as the pandemic and the declaration of disaster under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act are nowhere close to its end."

The petition seeks the following prayers:

- A direction to the Respondent No.2 to resume its scheme of providing dry rations under the Mukhya Mantri Corona Sahayta Yojna (MMCSY) scheme, or any other scheme designed for that purpose to all those who applied for e-coupons for availing rations under the said scheme and other poor and needy persons who require rations to ensure that they don't go hungry until further orders of this Hon'ble Court.

- A direction to the Respondent No.2 to resume accepting E-coupon applications and resume operating kiosks and helpdesks facilitating such applications for the purpose of receiving benefits for all residents not already covered under the regular PDS scheme under the National Food Security Act, 2013, until further orders of this Hon'ble Court.

- A direction to the Respondent No.2 to ensure resumption of hunger relief centers for providing free hot cooked meals to all those in need.

- A direction that the C.M. Appln. 15238/2020 be heard finally on the date fixed earlier i.e. 26.04.2021 so as to ensure that the measures put in place in April – June 2020 and the measures being put in place now continue to be in place until further orders of this Court.