A survey by Khadya Suraksha Jan Adhikar Manch (a coalition of organisations espousing cause of food and social security) in Maoist affected mineral rich hub of West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand paints a dismal picture on food security schemes for poor.

The survey done by the members for the four months between April and July 2021 among 709 green ration card holder families in 54 villages of seven blocks (Chakradharpur, Hatgamharia, Sonua, Khuntpani, Tonto, Tantnagar and Goilkera) in West Singhbhum districts found widespread irregularities in the distribution of rations under the State Food Security Scheme.

Parvati Jamuda from Nungdi village in rebel-hit Goilkera block who is also deprived of rations under the green card Bhola Prasad

The survey points out that only 22 per cent of the 709 surveyed green ration card holders have received ration for the four months during April-July 2021 and only 21 per cent of the households have got ration only for one month and only 6.5 per cent of the card holders have not got it even once.

“Out of 709 card holders, only 10 families have got ration cards. Many are not even aware of their card number. The final priority list of green ration card of the district has not been made public as per rules till date,” said Siraj Dutta, one of the members of the manch.

Significantly, under the state food security scheme which was launched by chief minister Hemant Soren in November 2020 those families living below the poverty line in the state but deprived of ration cards as part on National Food Security Act (based on 2011 census) were supposed to be given a green ration card by the state government and entitled to receive one rupee per kg of food grains. Five kg of grains per unit (person) would be given to the green card holders.

“The survey shows that till now neither all eligible applicants are connected nor green ration card holders are getting ration regularly,” added Siraj Dutta.

The outfit members also submitted a report of their survey along with a set of demands to West Singhbhum deputy commissioner Ananya Mittal on Wednesday.

“It seems that there are similar scenes in other blocks of the district (there are 18 blocks in the district). We have demanded that final priority list of the green ration cards should be published and uploaded in the district website and also made public in block and panchayat offices, ensure regular ration to green card beneficiaries, conduct an audit of the food grains arrived for the months of April-July, stock and distribution of the same period,” informed Siraj Dutta.

Mittal confirmed receiving the survey report.

“As per our records the National Food Security schemes along with the state food security schemes are running smoothly. However, we will check the findings of the survey in the concerned block and panchayat through the marketing officer in-charges and PDS dealers to find out the reason for such irregularities,’ said West Singhbhum deputy commissioner Mittal.

West Singhbhum has the iron ore mines of SAIL and Tata Steel along with other mineral resources.