3cr beneficiaries to get 3-mth advance ration before monsoon: State
Ranchi: The state department of food, public distribution and consumer affairs will provide ration for June to August to over 2.88 crore beneficiaries under the
National Food Security Act
(NFSA) from June 1 before monsoon, food and civil supplies minister Irfan Ansari said on Monday.The announcement came after Ansari held a meeting with department officials and the stakeholders and directed them to strengthen the supply chain network.
"The move shows the state govt's sensitivity towards poor to save them from hassles in collecting ration in places which get disconnected during flood like situation," Ansari said."Districts have been instructed to ensure that there is no negligence in the distribution. I will monitor the distribution activities and strict action will be taken against negligent officials," the minister added. "The department is fully prepared to tackle any disaster during the monsoon season," Ansari added.Ranchi: The state department of food, public distribution and consumer affairs will provide ration for June to August to over 2.88 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from June 1 before monsoon, food and civil supplies minister Irfan Ansari said on Monday.The announcement came after Ansari held a meeting with department officials and the stakeholders and directed them to strengthen the supply chain network. "The move shows the state govt's sensitivity towards poor to save them from hassles in collecting ration in places which get disconnected during flood like situation," Ansari said."Districts have been instructed to ensure that there is no negligence in the distribution. I will monitor the distribution activities and strict action will be taken against negligent officials," the minister added. "The department is fully prepared to tackle any disaster during the monsoon season," Ansari added.
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The Wire
18 hours ago
- The Wire
Why Andhra Pradesh's Rollback of the Doorstep Ration Delivery Project Betrays Adivasi Communities
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Government Why Andhra Pradesh's Rollback of the Doorstep Ration Delivery Project Betrays Adivasi Communities Rahul Mukkera and Chakradhar Buddha 12 minutes ago The decision to discontinue the system without consultation, field evaluation, or regard for evidence is not only regressive but legally and ethically questionable. An Andhra doorstep delivery truck. Photo: X/@yeswanth86. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now On May 1, 2025, the Andhra Pradesh government officially discontinued the doorstep delivery of ration – a pioneering reform that had once made it one of the few states in India to distribute Public Distribution System (PDS) grains through mobile vehicles directly to citizens' doorsteps. With this rollback, thousands of vulnerable households – especially Adivasi families living in the remote corners of the Eastern Ghats– now face a steeper and often insurmountable climb to secure their right to food. For elderly and widowed citizens like Gemmeli Rasmo, who resides in a secluded village in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district, this is not just a policy shift, it's a direct blow to her food security. The 62-year-old woman, who once relied on monthly doorstep ration delivery, must now travel around 10 kilometres to the nearest ration depot – a difficult journey for an elderly single woman, made worse by poor roads and the lack of transportation facilities. In addressing precisely these kinds of challenges, Section 30 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, mandates that Union and state governments devote special attention to vulnerable communities in remote, hilly, and tribal areas to ensure their food security. Introduced in January 2021 by then chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the doorstep delivery system was launched to address the persistent inaccessibility of ration shops for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and those living in geographically isolated areas. Each Mobile Dispensing Unit (MDU), essentially a mini truck, delivered rations directly to the hamlets of ration cardholders, coordinated by local village volunteers. The system was designed to reduce corruption, improve quality, save time, and ensure no one was left behind. Trucks and their benefits Each month, ration stock from ration depots was loaded onto mini trucks that traveled on fixed routes across villages and hamlets. Village or ward volunteers informed residents in advance about the delivery schedule. In tribal areas, the system operated largely offline, there were no biometric authentication requirements. Instead, distribution was based on the physical verification of the ration card. This simplified process ensured that even if the head of the household was absent, a family member or neighbour could collect the ration on their behalf by presenting the card. If any household missed collecting their ration, they could find the mini truck at the village or ward secretariat later that evening. In summary, the doorstep delivery system provided two layers of access: Primary: through the MDU delivery at local habitations. Secondary: from the mini truck parked at the local secretariat later that evening. This flexibility ensured that no one missed their ration. On several occasions, mini trucks returned a second time in the same month when a significant number of ration cardholders were left out on the first trip. The claim by the government that people were losing access under the doorstep delivery system is simply untrue – if anything, the system expanded access and simplified it. Although popularly described as 'doorstep delivery,' the mini trucks didn't always stop at individual homes. Instead, they parked within each street or habitation cluster. Even then, it dramatically reduced the distance people had to travel otherwise. In tribal areas – where families often relied on two-wheelers, shared autos, or even horses to reach far-off ration depots – this shift made a significant difference. Travel costs, time away from wage work, and physical strain were all considerably reduced. Under NFSA, ration depots must remain open throughout the month on all working days, but the doorstep delivery system limited distribution to the first 15 days of a month. However this scenario could be improved instead of scrapping one system. The government could have allowed both systems; ration delivery via mini trucks in the first half of a month and ration depot access for those who missed it in the first instance. This dual system was especially feasible in tribal areas, since ration depots are run by the state-owned Girijan Cooperative Corporation. Also read: 'Hungry Cannot Wait': Implement Directions On Migrant Workers' Ration Cards, SC Tells Union, States Access and other implications The rollback of this doorstep delivery system has profound implications, especially for tribal communities who are constitutionally entitled to differentiated protection and affirmative action. Specifically, Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds – now part of the umbrella Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) – are earmarked to ensure targeted welfare and development of Scheduled Tribes. Doorstep ration delivery in tribal areas aligns directly with the objectives of TSP by improving last-mile service delivery, reducing exclusion errors, and safeguarding the right to food among communities historically left out of mainstream development. Rolling back a system that demonstrably improved access, especially in tribal belts, undermines the very purpose of these constitutional and policy commitments. It calls into question the state's adherence to inclusive governance in Scheduled Areas. The government's justification for the rollback, that people were missing their rations due to the doorstep delivery system, does not withstand scrutiny. Although this is speculation at present, but such a decision smacks of having been influenced by a powerful lobby of ration depot owners, particularly from non-tribal areas, who felt threatened by the increased transparency and decentralisation introduced by the doorstep delivery system. Traditionally, these depot operators have wielded significant local clout and often enjoy close ties with bureaucrats, giving them both influence and immunity. In contrast, MDU operators – frequently from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Backward Class, and minority communities – operated with limited institutional backing but greater public accountability. It is important to note that in Scheduled Areas, it is the Department of Tribal Welfare that runs the PDS ration depots. Yet, the interests of dominant depot owners from outside these regions appear to have prevailed, sidelining the more inclusive and effective system that was benefiting remote tribal hamlets. What tribal people feel More disturbingly, the return to the ration depot model revives a pattern of exploitation that the doorstep delivery system had significantly curtailed. In many areas, depot owners routinely pressure ration cardholders to purchase soap, oil, or other groceries alongside their rice. These purchases are made under duress – driven by the fear that refusal may result in the denial of rations. The doorstep delivery system helped break this coercive cycle. With the distribution occurring closer to people's homes, citizens received their rightful entitlements without harassment or manipulation. Data from a recent study by LibTech India, based on interviews with 790 Adivasi respondents in the Paderu ITDA region, strongly supports this: 75% said that instances of missing rice grains are higher in the ration depot system. 65% said they were more often forced to buy additional items along with rice in the ration depot system. 83% preferred doorstep delivery system over the ration depot model. 92% reported a reduction in travel distance in the doorstep delivery system. 90% said they needed fewer trips to collect their ration in the doorstep delivery system. 75% said they received less than their entitlement more frequently under the ration depot system. Under the ration depot system, many beneficiaries had to queue for hours, only to be turned away due to overcrowding or arbitrary excuses. A day's wages were often lost just to collect a few kilos of grain. Grievance redressal mechanisms were virtually non-existent. In contrast, the doorstep delivery model created a more humane interface and brought essential services closer to people's homes. For daily wage earners, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, this wasn't just a welfare scheme, it was a lifeline. The decision to discontinue the system without consultation, field evaluation, or regard for evidence is not only regressive but legally and ethically questionable. Food security isn't just about stock availability or logistics. It's about making sure that entitlements are actually accessible to those who need them the most. If public welfare is the goal, the path forward must involve strengthening and expanding systems like the doorstep delivery, not scrapping them. Rahul Mukkera and Chakradhar Buddha are associated with LibTech India which is a centre at Collaborative Research and Dissemination. Views are personal. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Andhra: N. 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Hindustan Times
20 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
QRT to address grievances of Hajis from next year: Ansari
In view of complaints from Haj pilgrims regarding accommodation in Mina, Saudi Arabia, Uttar Pradesh minister of state for minority welfare, Muslim waqf and Haj Danish Azad Ansari said a quick response team (QRT) would be formed from next year to address such issues promptly. 'This year during Haj, I received some complaints about the accommodation in tents in Mina. I ensured all the issues were resolved within hours even as I personally monitored the situation round the clock. However, from next year, we will form a QRT that will oversee the arrangements and provide prompt solutions to any problems faced by Hajis,' said Ansari, who also serves as the chairman of the State Haj Committee, while speaking to HT. Ansari, who will receive the first batch of U.P's Haj pilgrims arriving from Jeddah to Lucknow at around 12:35 am on Thursday via Air India flight (SV3106), said, 'It's a matter of joy that Hajis will start returning on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. I will also seek their suggestions to improve the process from next year.' This year, over 5,000 Haj pilgrims departed from the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow, while others left from Delhi Airport. Earlier, on April 29, a bus ferrying Haj pilgrims was flagged off by cabinet minister OP Rajbhar and Ansari at the Haj House in Lucknow. A total of 15,513 people from U.P. had applied for Haj this year, and all were granted approval.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
10 lakh people go without ration as e-KYC wrecks 'access' in Gujarat
AHMEDABAD: The National Food Security Act mandates the State to guarantee food access for every citizen, from the womb stage to adulthood. However, the system meant to safeguard this right in Gujarat is cracking. Startling data from the State's own IPDS portal reveals that nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries were not able to receive ration during April, May, and June 2025, largely due to incomplete KYC formalities. This massive lapse exposes the gap between policy promises and on-ground delivery, leaving lakhs of vulnerable citizens battling hunger amid bureaucratic barriers. According to the Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan, the Centre's NDPS portal lists 3.82 crore beneficiaries in Gujarat. Yet, in the last three months, the number of actual beneficiaries has hovered between just 3.72 crore and 3.76 crore -- a shortfall of nearly 10 lakh people. The primary culprit behind this exclusion? Delays and glitches in mandatory e-KYC. But that's not the only red flag. The growing number of silent ration cards adds another layer of crisis. In the past three months alone, Gujarat has recorded over 4 lakh silent cards -- ration cards that get automatically deactivated if not used for three months. Anna Suraksha Adhikar Abhiyan Coordinator Pankti Jog said 'On paper, it looks like people have stopped collecting rations. However, on the ground, families claim they were turned away by ration dealers due to incomplete e-KYC — leaving them without food and branded inactive by the system.' 'This raises a sharp and pressing question: if people are being denied ration due to e-KYC issues and then their cards are marked silent, who is accountable for pushing lakhs into involuntary hunger? With each ration card typically linked to three or more family members, the real number of affected individuals could be over a million,' she said. In 2013, the Parliament passed the National Food Security Act (NFSA), aiming to bring every Indian, from children in Anganwadis to urban poor, under a legal food safety net. It brought under its ambit flagship schemes like the Mid-Day Meal, Anganwadi nutrition, and the Public Distribution System (PDS). Gujarat implemented the Act from April 1, 2016, promising subsidised grains — wheat at ₹2/kg, rice at ₹3/kg, and coarse grains at ₹1/kg — to 75% of its rural and 50% of its urban population. States were also allowed to expand this with pulses, gram, and oil for added nutrition. The month-on-month data reveals the cracks widening. In March 2025, out of 76,94,736 ration cards, 3,72,92,987 beneficiaries. But by April, even with a marginal increase to 77,01,339 ration cards, the number of beneficiaries slightly dipped to 3,72,71,559. May showed no major deviation, with 3,72,92,987 beneficiaries again, holding steady. However, the crisis exploded in June. Despite 73,99,129 ration cards in circulation, only 3,08,86,997 people received their entitlement. The burden of compliance fell squarely on the ration cardholders.
