Jharkhand to deliver food at tribals’ doorsteps
Jharkhand government on Monday launched an ambitious scheme to provide food to the doorsteps of 70,000 vulnerable tribal families, which are enrolled under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
The scheme is the first-ofits-kind in India, and through it the state government seeks to provide food to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) families with the help of special messengers, who will deliver the food.
Officials said the initiative aims to check malnutrition and hunger deaths among the tribals as their dwindling population remains a concern.
The NFSA was launched in Jharkhand on September 25, 2015 and covers more than 2.63 crore people in the state. Under it, PVTGs are entitled to 35 kg of free ration a month.
As per a survey conducted in villages with PVTG population, the families of the Soriya Paharaiya —an endangered PVTG— have to spend up to ₹300 to access their free ration.
“As per the SC order dated November 28, 2001, ration distribution should be available free of cost every month to all the PVTG families at a nearest point. Unfortunately, nearest points for many of the PVTGs means travelling up to 50-60 km,” said Balram, who carried out the survey.
State food minister Saryu Rai said, “We got many reports that PVTGs are not getting their benefits under NFSA due to distance and lack of awareness. So, we have decided to start food post so that these groups could get their rights at doorstep.”