The Right to Food and Challenges with the PDS

Source: This post on The Right to Food and Challenges with the PDS has been created based on article “The right to food and the struggle with the PDS”published in The Hindu on 9^th January 2025.

Syllabus: GS Paper- 3- Economy

Context: The article delves into the challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing their fundamental right to food through the Public Distribution System (PDS), particularly in states like Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bihar. It highlights the systemic failures, corruption, and bureaucratic hurdles that have compounded the issues surrounding food security for some of India’s most vulnerable populations.

What recent reports have highlighted issues with the Public Distribution System (PDS)?

1. In 2023, reports from Jharkhand and Odisha revealed alarming issues: a substantial number of households were removed from the PDS rolls.
2. Bihar also faces its own PDS crisis, affecting vulnerable communities.

What challenges does the Musahar community face with the PDS in Bihar?

1. Supply Crisis: The COVID-19 pandemic left many communities, including the Musahars, without a stable supply of rations.
2. Ration Card Issues:
   1. Many Musahar households in Patna district lack active ration cards.
   2. Existing ration cards often fail to include all family members.
3. Biometric Verification Problems:
   1. Mandatory biometric verification has resulted in many losing access to rations.
   2. Names are often struck off the PDS rolls, forcing individuals to apply for new ration cards.
4. Quality and Quantity of Rations:
   1. FPS dealers often provide only 4 kg of rice per person instead of the entitled 5 kg under Priority Household (PHH) cards.
   2. The rice distributed is of the lowest quality (“Usna” rice), with no wheat issued.

What are the documentation challenges for PDS enrolment?

1. Application Process in Bihar:
   1. Paper-based forms require Aadhaar details.
   2. Online applications mandate additional documents, including caste, income, and residence certificates.
2. Legal Basis:
   1. The demand for these certificates lacks legal support under the National Food Security Act (2013) or the PDS Control Order (2015).
   2. Officials acknowledge this requirement as an oversight in the digitised system.

How does systemic failure lead to exploitation?

1. Middlemen Exploitation:
   1. Vulnerable communities, particularly the Musahars, lack resources or knowledge to navigate online systems.
   2. Middlemen exploit them by charging over ₹3,000 for ration card processing.
   3. In many cases, neither the card is issued nor the middleman traceable after payment.
2. Delayed Applications:
   1. Applications often remain pending for 4–18 months, far beyond the 30-day timeline stipulated in the 2015 order.

What is the broader implication of these challenges?

1. The government’s failure to address systemic flaws has created a bureaucratic maze that denies people access to their basic means of subsistence.
2. Despite the right to food being declared a fundamental right in 2001 (People’s Union of Civil Liberties vs Union of India), excessive red tape has obstructed its implementation, harming the very people it aims to serve.