Glitches in the system have deprived people of nearly half of their food rations in the last four months. When they do get their rations, people spend 12 hours collecting them, on average. Most people are opposed to the new system.
In early October 2017, the Government of Jharkhand began an experiment with “direct benefit transfer” (DBT) under the public distribution system in Nagri Block of Ranchi District. Under the DBT system, people have to collect their food subsidy in cash from the bank before using it to buy rice from the ration shop at Rs 32 per kg. Earlier, they were able to buy rice from the ration shop at Re 1 per kg.
Earlier enquiries reveal that the DBT system is causing tremendous inconvenience and that most people are unhappy with it. Regular agitations against DBT have taken place at the Block and District headquarters.
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For further information, please contact Jean Drèze (jaandaraz@gmail.com) or Nazar Khalid (nazarkhalid6@gmail.com), survey coordinators.