NEW DELHI: Delhi government is going to double the quantity of free ration — 10kg instead of the usual five — given through the public distribution system (PDS) this month.
Besides 71 lakh regular beneficiaries linked to 19 lakh ration cards, over 30 lakh additional people are getting free items — wheat, rice and daal — through e-cards issued since the lockdown has started in March end. Soon after the lockdown was announced, the free ration amount was increased to 7.5kg.
Announcing the step on Friday, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also said the government would provide kits with other kitchen essentials along with the ration items.

The decision to increase the ration amount was taken after various incidents of hardship faced by the beneficiaries, especially migrants and daily wage labourers working in the unorganised sector, came to light, said a source. Due to the lockdown, small factories and shops dealing in non-essential items have been shut.
The kitchen essential kit, whose distribution has started with the May ration, includes one litre refined oil, 1kg each of chhole/chana, sugar and salt, turmeric, coriander and chili powder 200 gram each, and two 60-75gm soap bars.
The government has taken the decision after getting to know that the PDS beneficiaries are finding it difficult to buy these products, usually costlier than regular ration items, said a source.