-TheWire.in The decision, which has been severely criticised as it comes in the wake of rising hunger in the country, was defended by the government as being needed to manufacture alcohol-based hand sanitisers. New Delhi: A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 3, 2020 all but cleared the way for the government’s much-criticised decision to convert ‘surplus’ rice to ethanol, information obtained by The Wire via the Right...

-The Indian Express For July 1, the normative minimum stocks to run the targeted public distribution system (TPDS) and other welfare schemes, plus maintain a strategic reserve over and above that, are 27.58 mt of wheat and 13.54 mt of rice. Despite efforts at disposing of surplus foodgrains – including by distributing these free under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) and a special scheme for migrant labourers returning to...

-The Hindu There is a resonance between Saramago’s literary world and the migrant labour distress in contemporary India The novel, Blindness, by Portuguese Nobel Laureate José Saramago, is strikingly prescient about a sweeping illness. The plot revolves around a mysterious epidemic because of which people suddenly turn blind. The thread It starts with a person driving his car who turns blind while waiting at a traffic signal. He pleads to be taken home and...

-Hindustan Times The court also said that the government shall ensure that all ration shops remain operational and disburse food grains, in accordance with the policy formulated by the Centre and state government. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi government to file a detailed status report on the supply of rations through the public distribution system and other mechanisms, such as e-coupons, in response to a plea...

-TheWire.in A survey has revealed that many ration shops are closed, out of stock or not delivering rations despite online data revealing supply of stocks to them. New Delhi: A fortnight after the Delhi government announced that it would be providing free rations to those in need in the capital city and the Centre also announced release of additional foodgrain and pulses, a ground survey by a foods right campaign has revealed...