New Delhi, Jun 23 (PTI) Delhi Food and Civil Supplies Minister Imran Hussain on Wednesday said the city government is firmly committed to providing free ration to public distribution system beneficiaries and the needy who do not have ration cards "as long as the situation warrants".

The Delhi government had earlier announced to provide free ration to over 17 lakh households covered under the public distribution system (PDS) for May and June in view of the situation arising out of the lockdown.

Since June 5, it has also been providing five kilograms of foodgrains to the needy who do not have ration cards.

"The Delhi government is firmly committed to providing free ration to both NFS (National Food Security Act) beneficiaries and Non-PDS needy people, as long as the situation warrants," a statement quoted Hussain as saying.

"The city government strongly believes that free ration in COVID-19 pandemic is not a privilege but a basic obligation of the government towards its people. We are providing free ration to the people of Delhi and will continue to do so," it read.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)