Beginning with a recent decision by the Pune Zilla Parishad to provide temporary ration cards to over 80,000 undocumented people, this article discusses the initiative, its benefits, and intricacies. The move intends to enable recipients to get foodgrains via the Public Distribution System (PDS), which has been a significant concern across states, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown. Noteworthy personalities such as Nobel Laureates Amartya Sen, Abhijit Banerjee and ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan have proposed similar measures, signalling the importance of this step.
Key Points and Innovations
This initiative is a first-of-its-kind attempt to help a broader section of the population access government benefits during the Covid-19 lockdown. The scheme will use a one-time Aadhaar authentication process to open accounts for these individuals with India Post Payments Bank. After establishing the biometric Aadhaar-based link and opening the account, it will act as the only authentication needed for these undocumented people to access rations from the PDS system.
Provisions for Home Delivery and Extended Coverage
Besides facilitating access to necessities, the scheme also aims to encourage home delivery of grains at the village council level, reducing crowd gatherings and maintaining physical distancing. It extends to individuals from Primitive Tribes and the transgender community, groups often overlooked by such benefits.
Identification and Verification of Beneficiaries
The task of identifying beneficiaries lies with the village police patil who maintains records of outsiders in a particular register. Due to the current non-functionality of Gram Sabha, a committee comprising the village council head, a member of the village assembly, and the local police patil are entrusted with this responsibility. The only verification to be conducted involves inspecting the kitchen of the beneficiary to determine their eligibility for the scheme.
Boost to Sharad Bhojan Yojana and Corporate Involvement
The move is expected to enhance the Sharad Bhojan Yojana, an initiative providing cooked meals at subsidized rates in Pune district. Janakidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sansthan, the CSR wing of the Bajaj Group, will partner with Pune Zilla Parishad for this scheme.
About Public Distribution System (PDS)
An Indian food Security System operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, the PDS aims to manage scarcity through food grain distribution at affordable prices. The Central Government and State Governments jointly operate it, with varied responsibilities divided between them.
National Food Security Act (NFSA)
The NFSA 2013 legally entitles a significant percentage of the rural and urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System. The eldest woman of the household, aged 18 years or above, must be declared as the family head for acquiring ration cards under this Act.
