Delhi: The Central government on Sunday asked the state governments to allow the ration shops to remain for a longer duration and on all days to ensure timely and safe distribution of both subsidised and free foodgrains to the poor.


The Union Food Ministry noted that intended beneficiaries might not be getting adequate time to lift their entitled foodgrains in several states due to the Corona induced lockdown which has curtailed the timings of ration shops. 


ALSO READ | India Continues To Record Over 4000 Covid Deaths, Registers 3.11 Lakh Cases In Last 24 Hrs


Hence, the ministry has issued an advisory in this regard stating that, "In view of ongoing lockdown in some States/UTs, that may curtail the functioning hours of Fair Price Shop (FPS), an advisory has been issued on 15th May, 2021…to keep the FPSs open, preferably on all days of the month." 


The government has reportedly asked the states to keep the ration shops open for distribution of foodgrains under the NFSA as well as PMGKAY scheme in a staggered manner throughout the day. 


The advisory has asked the state governments to ensure that FPSs are exempted from the restricted hours of opening of regular markets as foodgrains are covered under essential items. 


ALSO READ | As Cases In Villages Gradually Rise, Govt Issues Guidelines For Covid Management In Rural & Peri-Urban Areas


The development has come at the time when India has started recording a decline in the number of daily Covid cases across the country. As per Union Health Ministry, the country reported 3,11,170 new COVID 19 cases, 3,62,437 discharges and 4,077 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the number of total cases to 2,46,84,077 while the Death toll stands at 2,70,284. There are as many as 36,18,458 active cases of Covid-19 while 2,07,95,335 people have recovered from the novel disease.


(With agency inputs)