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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Recent survey by civil society group show 'access-to-food' situation improves in Jharkhand, although much is required to be done for the poor & marginalised
Recent survey by civil society group show 'access-to-food' situation improves in Jharkhand, although much is required to be done for the poor & marginalised

Recent survey by civil society group show 'access-to-food' situation improves in Jharkhand, although much is required to be done for the poor & marginalised

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published Published on May 26, 2020   modified Modified on May 26, 2020

-Press release by Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand chapter, dated 26th May, 2020

Following the first round of quick survey of essential facilities in rural areas of Jharkhand that was conducted during the first week of April 2020, a second round of survey was done in the second and third week of May this year by members (called "observers") of the Right to Food Campaign, state chapter. Like the previous one, the second round of survey focuses on the status of essential services in one of India's poorest state -- Jharkhand: ration shops under the public distribution system (PDS), MGNREGA, dal-bhat kendras, community kitchens, banks, etc.  

Comparing the two rounds, it seems that the services under the PDS and dal-bhat kendras have improved in April. In most blocks (42 out of 46), PDS cardholders received double rations in April. In 40 out of 46 blocks, cardholders have started getting free ration in the month of May: 10 kg per person in 35 blocks and 5 kg per person in another five blocks. However, even though all cardholders are to receive 2 kgs of free dal for April-May, it has not been distributed in 35 out of the 46 blocks. Also, in all the remaining blocks barring one, cardholders received only 1 kg dal instead of 2 kgs. Also, the problem of katauti i.e. giving less than entitled quantity continued unabated. Please click here to access the major findings of the second round of the rapid assessment survey.

Please note that the second round of the “Lockdown Checkup” quick assessment survey is based on telephonic reports of observers from 46 blocks in 22 districts. Fifty blocks in 19 districts of Jharkhand were covered for Round 1, in the first week of April 2020.

“Mukhyamantri dal-bhat kendras” are now active in a larger number of blocks, as compared to that in Round 1. But the utilisation of dal-bhat kendras remains very low, because of the lockdown. Only 16 out of 45 kendras have been publicised by the local administration. Some kendras in Ranchi are delivering food to nearby slums, with good effect. But among the surveyed blocks, only 8 out of 46 have adopted mobile food delivery.

“Didi kitchens” are running in gram panchayats-GP (of block observers) of 43 out of 46 surveyed blocks. In most cases, however, the kitchen is not accessible to needy people from all the villages in the GP: only those who reside in nearby tolas or villages are able to reach the kitchen.

Unemployment is a significant problem today in rural areas and many workers are interested in MGNREGA work. Only 29 out of 46 observers, however, reported that MGNREGA work had started in their village. In many villages, small works like TCB have opened, which hardly create adequate work for all workers. Many migrant workers do not have job cards and many others who have job cards are unable to get work because of the complex application process. The system is poorly prepared for a big expansion of MGNREGA employment. For instance, many blocks do not even have programme officer at block level.

In 37 out of 46 blocks, there are long queues and overcrowding outside the banks. People have to queue for hours, sometimes standing in the sun. Specially abled and older people are facing many difficulties in withdrawing money. In 41 out of 46 blocks, Pragya Kendras or Customer Service Centres are active in the neighbourhood of the observer, but at least 13 of these centres face technical problems such as: (1) Link failure, (2) Fingerprint authentication failure, (3) Lack of money. In some blocks, people have been asked to come again the next day to get cash even after biometric verification. In such a situation, it will also be challenging for MGNREGA workers to withdraw wages from their bank account.

Right now it is most important to ensure food and work for everyone in rural areas. The PDS should be universalised in rural areas. Under the MGNREGA, large labour-intensive public works should be opened in all the village and weekly cash payments should be made.

For further information please contact the following persons:

Ashrafi Nand Prasad (7488609805) or Survey team members -- Pallavi Pratibha (9915065122), Vivek (8873341415), Vipul Paikra (8305291793) or Tanya Narayan (9523234545)

Email: rtfcjharkhand@gmail.com

Office address

Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand
363 A, Road No 4B,
Ashok Nagar,
Ranchi-834002
Jharkhand

 

Image Courtesy: Inclusive Media for Change/ Shambhu Ghatak


Press release by Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand chapter, dated 26th May, 2020


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