According to the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), India can make a significant contribution to the global fight against malnourishment and hunger if it shows political will and makes its food distribution system more effective. As per data made available by UNWFP, India is home to more than 230 million undernourished people, more than any other country. While the proportion of malnourished has fallen, the absolute numbers are rising with the population. What would explain the fact that India has made major progress in food production yet it does not impact the poor? A well known Indian scientist once commented that India’s is a case of famine in the midst of plenty. It is obvious that the state-run public distribution system (PDS) has failed to deliver to the poor and needy. It has failed to deliver food to the poor and end malnourishment. This is the crux of the matter—corruption and inefficiency in the PDS. And going by this trend, India is unlikely to achieve the UN Millennium Development goals of halving poverty and education for all children by 2015.
A corrupt system and the lack of political will are behind many of the problems faced by ordinary people. Despite the growing economic clout of India as a major Asian powerhouse and the success stories on economic reforms and globalization, it is indeed a sad irony that endemic poverty continues to pervade the country’s rural landscape. While no doubt, poverty in India is endemic and does not make for easy solutions, one will have to ensure effective implementation of anti-poverty schemes. There is a plethora of such programs but all without much direction and focus leading to its colossal failure. Poverty alleviation programs in the country must be reorganized to give it greater focus and direction. Once, this is done the schemes that must be encouraged should include those relating to the creation of community assets, targeting individuals directly and improving the public distribution system in order that those living below the poverty line are able to get access to food grains at the subsidized rate.
As far as Nagaland goes, the concerned department, in this case Food & Civil Supplies needs to wake up from its lethargic functioning. It is a known fact that Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities continue to be generously doled out to ‘ghosts’ or people with bogus names. Rather than looking at the PDS as an important constituent of the strategy for poverty eradication, more often than not, corrupt government officials look at PDS and civil supplies as commodities for pilferage—to make corrupt money that too at the cost of the poor. The PDS needs to be implemented with utmost transparency and efficiency—to the best improvement of the beneficiaries. Whether it is rice, sugar or kerosene, the poorer section of society must get its due share of their entitlement. The concerned authorities in the State should also ensure periodical checking of ration cards to detect and eliminate the bogus cards and take action wherever necessary. Besides, transparent arrangement must be made to ensure delivery of the essential commodities to Fair Price Shop and its subsequent distribution to the intended beneficiaries.
