Cong writes to Paswan against DBT in ration

Jharkhand Congress expressing its anguish over reported hardship faced by PDS beneficiaries of Nagri near Ranchi where the Centre had introduced direct benefit transfer (DBT) for ration on pilot basis, has shot off a letter to Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Ajoy Kumar on Friday sent a letter to the Minister highlighting the plight of the people and also underling loopholes into the system. The PCC president in his letter referred to payment related glitches and delays which had led to massive protest and resentments among villagers while terming the pilot project against the spirit of the Food Security Act.

“The State Government had in October 2017 implemented DBT in ration at Nagri block where the households are to purchase rice at Rs 32 per kg from ration shop and subsidy is credited to their bank accounts. But ever since the system came into force the cardholders are being deprived of cheaper ration due to technical glitches. Even the Government survey has confirmed this where 97 per cent of the families rejected the scheme. Media reports suggest that the State Government is to recommend the Centre for shunning the system but it continues,” said the Congress State chief.  

Requesting the Centre to close the DBT in ration and retune to the older system, Kumar also urged the Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister to direct the State Government for compensating the people denied ration due to these issues under the provisions of the FSA.

Notably, the system got rolled out at one block in the State against which locals and food rights activists staged protests and organised marches. later, the Department also setup a fact finding team and conducted a study. Officials of the Department were also of the view that due to issues related to banks and internet connectivity there are issues involved into the DBT mechanism which is causing lots of distress over there.

Decision to roll it back was taken after that and Chief Minister Raghubar Das had also assented to this. Recently during his visit to Ranchi Ram Vilas Paswan had also said that the system cannot be implemented without having desired technical infrastructure in place. However, no final decision has been taken in this regard so far.