MLAs: People hoarding dry ration, deliver cooked food

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 1

As the government started distribution of 10 lakh dry food packets, Congress leaders and MLAs have sought stepping up of door-to-door delivery of food cooked in community kitchens (langars).

They said the civil and police administrations, along with NGOs, were doing their best to undertake door-to-door delivery of dry food packets, but people had started stocking up ration in anticipation of further restrictions.

Reports from Ludhiana, Sangrur, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, and Fatehgarh Sahib suggest that despite distribution of wheat a few weeks ago and distribution of additional allocation of wheat and dal for three months starting on April 1, people were resorting to hoarding. As the result, migrant labour and poor could suffer in the long run, said Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Kuljit Nagra.

An experiment in Zira to run “Zira 47” helpline by NGOs and MLA Kulbir Singh Zira to provide delivery of cooked food has helped the district administration and volunteers segregate the needy from hoarders.

In Fatehgarh Sahib, the experiment of cooking food in community kitchens is proving to be successful, especially in villages.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said some complaints had been received. “With the help of police and civil administration, we have streamlined the process so that only migrants and poor get dry food packets,” he said.