Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Survey team led by economist Jean Drèze finds the food distribution system in Jharkhand faulty

-Press release by Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand chapter, dated 10th April, 2020

Members of the Right to Food Campaign (Jharkhand chapter) conducted a quick survey of essential facilities in rural areas during the first week of April 2020. “Observers” dispersed over 50 blocks in 19 districts of the state were asked to check the local facilities (ration shops, dal-bhat kendras, anganwadis, among others) and report their observations over the phone. Please click here to access the list of districts and blocks where the survey was conducted during the first week of April 2020.

The survey indicates that the existing food distribution system in Jharkhand, one of India's poorest state, is not functioning properly to serve the food and nutritional requirements of the poor and the needy in the wake of COVID-19.

Attached are the main findings of the quick survey of essential facilities in rural Jharkhand (ration shops, dal-bhat kendras, anganwadis, among others) conducted by the members of the Right to Food Campaign during the first week of April 2020. 

The survey clearly shows that the general picture is grim: very little public support is available to poor people at this time of crisis. Only 18 out of 50 observers reported that take-home rations were being distributed in anganwadis. The PDS helps, but the distribution of double rations, promised by the government, is erratic: observers reported distribution of double rations in just 15 of the 50 survey blocks. Also, a large number of poor households are still excluded from the PDS.

Among households that have no ration card and have applied for one, very few are receiving 10 kg of foodgrain as promised by the Chief Minister. No effective arrangement has been made for this, other than asking mukhiyas to give 10 kg of foodgrain to needy households using their Rs 10,000 relief fund. The fund is grossly insufficient for this purpose.

In the light of these survey findings, the Right to Food Campaign reiterates all the demands made in its statement of 6 April, 2020 including:

* Immediate distribution of double rations needs to be ensured. All excluded households should be covered under the PDS, with regular monthly rations at NFSA levels.

* Dal-bhat kendras at the block and gram panchayat levels should be upgraded and better advertised (e.g. bright painting, large banner, miking) so that they are well utilised.

* Take-home rations, including eggs, should be immediately be distributed in schools and anganwadis to children as well as to pregnant and lactating women.

* The government should immediately put special grievance redress facilities in place, especially for the PDS, so that complaints are addressed swiftly and strict action is taken against corrupt dealers and government officials.

For further information, please contact the following persons:

Asharfi Nand Prasad (7488609805) or members of survey team – Jean Dreze (9471130049), Pallavi Pratibha (9915065122), Shireen Azam (9739897103), Siraj Dutta (9939819763) or Vipul Paikra (7506580933) or Vivek (8873341415)

Email: rtfcjharkhand@gmail.com

Office address

Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand
363 A, Road No 4B,
Ashok Nagar,
Ranchi-834002
Jharkhand

 

Image Courtesy: Inclusive Media for Change/ Shambhu Ghatak