Kolkata, Aug. 17 -- State Food minister Ashok Kirtania has written to all MLAs seeking their views on the need to continue the Duare Ration scheme, introduced by the erstwhile chief minister Mamata Banerjee in 2021 to deliver Public Distribution System (PDS) foodgrains to beneficiaries at their doorstep.
In his letter, Kirtania has asked MLAs whether any additional benefits need to be incorporated into the scheme; how many beneficiaries have availed themselves of its benefits, and whether they would face any difficulty if the scheme were discontinued.
The letter said the move followed discussions within the department on winding up the Duare Sarkar scheme in West Bengal.
According to Kirtania, the Duare Ration scheme has not yet been discontinued. The government is also considering introducing more schemes within the PDS system to make it easier for beneficiaries to access their entitlements.
The state has around 21,000 ration dealers. The government plans to provide a subsidy of Rs 1 lakh to each dealer to purchase a delivery vehicle.
Dealers will also be allowed to recruit two assistants, with the state bearing half of their salaries.
Each vehicle will be stationed at a convenient location in a neighbourhood so that residents do not have to walk more than 500 metres to collect their ration.
The proposed system is expected to benefit around 10 crore people across the state.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.