Jharkhand to deliver food at tribals’ doorsteps
Jharkhand government on Monday launched an ambitious scheme to provide food at 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 food packets to the tribal households.
Officials said the initiative aims to check malnutrition and hunger deaths among the tribals as their dwindling population remains a major concern for both the Centre and state governments.
The NFSA was launched in Jharkhand on September 25, 2015 and covers more than 2.63 crore people out of the state’s 3.29 crore population. Under the scheme, the PVTGs are entitled to 35 kg of free ration per month.
The PVTGs lead a nomadic life in jungles and hills because of which they have not been able to reap the benefits of the NFSA.
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 in blocks.
“As per the Supreme Court 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, the so-called nearest points for many of the PVTGs means travelling up to 50-60 km,” said Balram, a right to food activist, who had carried out the survey.
Echoing Balram’s concern, 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 about their rights. So, we have decided to start food post so that these groups could get their rights at doorstep.”
For now, the scheme has been started in three blocksSundar Pahari (Godda), Chainpur (Palamu) and Barhait (Sahebganj). All 24 districts of the state will be covered under the drive by April end, said Vinay Kumar Choubey, secretary of food and public distribution department.
Choubey said block-level officials would be engaged as special messengers for the schemes, and they would deliver a packet of 35-kg rice to each household. “The delivery boy will carry an Aadhaarenabled POS machine to authenticate the delivery,” said Choubey.
The scheme will also boost the income of rural women, as government has decided to purchase 35-kg plastic bag from Sakhi Mandal, women self-help groups.