Details
Give free food grains to the needy: BJP
Raju Vernekar
vernekar.raj@gmail.com
BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has stated that this is a mockery of the people who have become helpless due to the coronavirus and resultant lockdown. As such the GR issued by the state government on 31 March 2020 should be immediately withdrawn.
“The central government has announced the distribution of free food grains to the ration cardholders. Whereas the Maharashtra Government has put a pre-condition that free food grains will be given only after they buy their regular quota. While justifying the decision, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal stated that stocking rice for distribution under the Centre’s package along with three months’ worth of food grains will be difficult for ration shops and their transportation would pose a problem. This is ridiculous because the same food grains could be distributed without collecting money from the buyers, Bhatkhalkar said.”
“In meanwhile a private firm Capri Global Capital Ltd (CGCL) has begun distributing kits containing 19 essential commodities and 15 kgs food grains to needy people in various areas of Mumbai. CGCL plans to distribute such kits to 1400 families in Dharavi, Chembur, Ghatkopar, and Bandra in association with Pragati Holistic Development Trust (PHDT), CGCL MD Rajesh Sharma said. PHDT runs community centers in Dharavi and looks after the educational and health aspects of children living in slums.”
