Tepid response to cash transfer plan in place of rations
NEWDELHI: CITING FEEDBACK FROM JHARKHAND TO CASH TRANSFER SCHEME, WCD MINISTRY HAS DECIDED TO APPROACH THE PMO NITI AAYOG
The government’s decision to introduce conditional cash transfer (CCT) in its supplementary nutrition programme, instead of giving take-home ration to children below three years, pregnant and lactating mothers, on a pilot basis in 10 districts of various states has hit a roadblock.
A recent social audit of the direct benefit transfer of food subsidy carried out by Jharkhand government’s rural development department found that majority of the beneficiaries wanted subsidised foodgrains instead of cash transfer. Citing the adverse feedback from the state to the cash transfer scheme, the Union women and child development (WCD) ministry has decided to approach the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and federal think tank Niti Aayog to seek its view on whether the ministry should go ahead with the pilot.
Jharkhand started cash transfer in lieu of subsidised grains on a pilot basis in October. “After the Jharkhand report was brought to our notice, WCD minister Maneka Gandhi directed that PMO and Niti Aayog’s opinion be sought on whether to go ahead with the pilot,” said a senior ministry official who didn’t want to be named. The official added that the ministry is in the process of writing to the PMO and Niti Aayog.
At present, under the supplementary nutrition program run by the WCD ministry, a child below three years is entitled to a take home ration (THR) of ~8 per day. The THR is given at anganwadis or government-run day care centres. Pregnant and lactating mothers are entitled to a THR of ~9.50 per day per beneficiary. The ministry, following directions from the PMO earlier this year, had decided to introduce conditional cash transfer (CCT) on a pilot basis according to which ~200 (cost for 25 days in a month) was to be transferred to the account of the mother for buying food for her children. For pregnant and lactating mother, ~237.50 was to be transferred.
Transferring cash to a beneficiary’s account instead of giving take home rations has been a bone of contention between the ministry and the Niti Aayog for long. “The money is not enough to buy the quantity of food required every month from retail shops. Besides, it will be difficult for a pregnant or lactating mother to go to banks to withdraw the money...,” a second ministry official said.
Citing “immense trouble” to the poor in getting money, Jharkhand food minister Saryu Roy told Hindustan Times in May that the state would ask the Centre to withdraw the pilot project for cash transfer in lieu of ration. There are 9.8 crore beneficiaries of the supplementary nutrition programme, of which nearly 8 crore are children under six years.