Kejriwal holds videoconference with MLAs on corona relief work (Ld)
New Delhi, April 3 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday held a meeting with all MLAs from the city through videoconference to discuss the relief work carried out in their respective Assembly segments amid the lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak.
Kejriwal instructed all the MLAs to ensure that people in their respective area get all the benefits of government schemes during the lockdown.
The Chief Minister asked the MLAs to ensure that everyone got free ration from shops as per the Delhi government announcement.
“The quantity of food should be sufficient and its quality good at all night shelters and Delhi government schools,” Kejriwal said.
He also said that no person should stay hungry in their areas.
“If someone needs food, the MLA concerned should take such people to the food distribution centre or arrange ration immediately,” he said.
Kejriwal said that the MLAs must also regularly oversee ration and food distribution and inform the government in case of irregularity or problem.
“Based on such situation, the Delhi government can take prompt action,” he said.
Kejriwal said the MLAs should also mobilise people to help the poor and ensure such help reaches the needy, adding that help should be given to those without ration cards to apply online.
Kejriwal had announced that people without ration cards will receive free ration on the basis of online applications.
Nationwide three-week lockdown has been imposed from March 24 midnight and all non-essential work and travel has been barred by the Centre.
Kejriwal interacted with the MLAs in two shifts — first he had a videoconference meeting with AAP MLAs and then with opposition BJP MLAs.
Kejriwal, who is national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, told MLAs that he is happy that they are helping in feeding the people and providing ration to the people in their respective areas.
From the 70 Assembly seats in Delhi, 62 were bagged by the AAP. The BJP got eight.
“In this terrible calamity, all (political) parties are working as a team,” Kejriwal said.
Later, speaking to the media, he said that of the 71 lakh people getting ration in the city, 60 per cent have received the grains.
“We have prepared 328 relief centres to accommodate 57,000 people. Anyone can come to these relief centres and stay there. We will take care of them,” Kejriwal said.
He said food is being distributed at 1,780 locations in Delhi. On Thursday, as many as 6,42,850 people had lunch and 6.30 lakh people had dinner in these locations.
“We are prepared to feed up to 10 lakh people daily.”
He also said that the government is providing shelter at 328 places. “While the arrangements have been made for 57,270 people, only 11,500 people are staying in the shelters.”
So far, 384 people have been tested coronavirus positive in the city.
–IANS
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