By phasing out the Antyodaya scheme, the government could deprive the poorest of poor of adequate food security.
The Narendra Modi government has issued an executive order that contravenes the National Food Security law passed by Parliament in 2013 and effectively phases out the Antyodaya food scheme launched by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 2000.
Issued on March 20 by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, the order recently came to the attention of Right to Food activists. They allege some of its provisions are illegal and could end up depriving lakhs of poor people of their legal entitlements of subsidised food rations.
"The PDS control order is overreaching the provisions of the National Food Security Act which has been legislated by Parliament," said Biraj Patnaik, the advisor to the Supreme Court on food security matters. "Some of its sections are illegal and will not stand scrutiny of the Supreme Court."
"I am particularly agitated about the phasing out of the Antyodaya scheme," said Jean Drèze, economist and activist. "Firstly, it is illegal since Supreme Court orders make the scheme mandatory for some social groups. The scheme covers 20 million people. It provides a good means to reach the poorest of the poor. By phasing it out, the government is giving a clear message: the poor should help themselves."
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