By the Delhi government unravels a shocking tale of hunger, poverty and a public distribution system mired in corruption.
Out of 39 lakh individuals surveyed, almost 19 lakh most of them needy did not have ration cards and, in turn, no access to subsidized food grains or recognized proof of identity.
Carried out under the Mission Convergence programme, the survey aimed at identifying the vulnerable and building a database for targeted intervention. Individuals in nine lakh households across slums, JJ clusters and resettlement colonies were surveyed in two phases.
The data shows that almost 49% of the 55,608 differently-able surveyed were without ration cards. Of 81,618 widows, 33.5% did not have ration cards while out of 97,823 women-headed households 34.6% had no cards.
The Central government's PDS programme has set a fixed limit for each state in terms of granting a subsidy for ration. For Delhi, this limit is around 4.09 lakh families, including BPL and Antyodaya card-holders. Thus, the quota allows the benefit to reach over 20 lakh people.
"The survey indicates that many more lakhs need to be covered under PDS,'' said Biraj Patnaik, principal advisor to the commissioner of the Supreme Court on the right to food. When contacted, food & civil supplies minister Haroon Yusuf said, "We will study the data and if required, a review will be carried out in terms of extending the subsidy benefits.''
Out of 39 lakh individuals surveyed, almost 19 lakh most of them needy did not have ration cards and, in turn, no access to subsidized food grains or recognized proof of identity.
Carried out under the Mission Convergence programme, the survey aimed at identifying the vulnerable and building a database for targeted intervention. Individuals in nine lakh households across slums, JJ clusters and resettlement colonies were surveyed in two phases.
The data shows that almost 49% of the 55,608 differently-able surveyed were without ration cards. Of 81,618 widows, 33.5% did not have ration cards while out of 97,823 women-headed households 34.6% had no cards.
The Central government's PDS programme has set a fixed limit for each state in terms of granting a subsidy for ration. For Delhi, this limit is around 4.09 lakh families, including BPL and Antyodaya card-holders. Thus, the quota allows the benefit to reach over 20 lakh people.
"The survey indicates that many more lakhs need to be covered under PDS,'' said Biraj Patnaik, principal advisor to the commissioner of the Supreme Court on the right to food. When contacted, food & civil supplies minister Haroon Yusuf said, "We will study the data and if required, a review will be carried out in terms of extending the subsidy benefits.''