Patna, February 28: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s much-applauded coupon system to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) for the poor has run into problems.
Reports are coming in of largescale violence across the state during distribution of the coupons — a first-of-its-kind scheme — amidst allegations that large numbers of genuine poor families are being denied the facility.
The matter rocked the state Assembly today, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House amidst pandemonium. The Opposition trooped into the well of the House pressing that their adjournment motion over the issue be admitted. They claimed that the new Below Poverty Line (BPL) list prepared by the government was full of discrepancies and that a large number of genuine poor families do not figure in it. The Speaker however rejected their adjournment motion, leading the Opposition to boycott the post-lunch session. Nitish Kumar, however, said he was ready for a discussion over the issue.
The Chief Minister had launched the unique coupon system for distribution of foodgrains and kerosene oil to BPL families through the PDS on Republic Day. Under the scheme, poor families were to get kerosene and foodgrains from PDS shops on presentation of coupons. Based on the coupons the owner of the PDS shop, in turn, presented, he would get his supply. Kumar hoped that this would help check rampant corruption in the PDS system.
But Kumar’s good intentions have been undermined by allegations that the new regime has prepared a “faulty” BPL list. Interestingly the Nitish Kumar government had gone for revision of the BPL list alleging that the one prepared during the RJD regime was not proper. Since names which figure on the list are only entitled to the coupons, people across the state are now claiming that in many cases it's families who are not so poor who figure on the list.
In Marhaura of Saran district coupons could not be distributed last Monday as a large number of people went on the rampage. The protest turned so violent that the panchayat secretary had to run for his life. In Darauli of Siwan district, agitated people chased away the BDO and the panchayat secretary when they started distributing coupons recently. Similar protests have also been reported from many other panchayats of the state. In some cases panchayat secretaries have been suspended for failure to rectify mistakes in the BPL list.
Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi today said the Nitish Kumar government was a complete failure as far as implementing poverty alleviation schemes sponsored by the Centre went. “The poor are being crushed by the present government. The BPL list is full of above poverty line people and the employment guarantee scheme has failed in the state,” she said.
Reports are coming in of largescale violence across the state during distribution of the coupons — a first-of-its-kind scheme — amidst allegations that large numbers of genuine poor families are being denied the facility.
The matter rocked the state Assembly today, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House amidst pandemonium. The Opposition trooped into the well of the House pressing that their adjournment motion over the issue be admitted. They claimed that the new Below Poverty Line (BPL) list prepared by the government was full of discrepancies and that a large number of genuine poor families do not figure in it. The Speaker however rejected their adjournment motion, leading the Opposition to boycott the post-lunch session. Nitish Kumar, however, said he was ready for a discussion over the issue.
The Chief Minister had launched the unique coupon system for distribution of foodgrains and kerosene oil to BPL families through the PDS on Republic Day. Under the scheme, poor families were to get kerosene and foodgrains from PDS shops on presentation of coupons. Based on the coupons the owner of the PDS shop, in turn, presented, he would get his supply. Kumar hoped that this would help check rampant corruption in the PDS system.
But Kumar’s good intentions have been undermined by allegations that the new regime has prepared a “faulty” BPL list. Interestingly the Nitish Kumar government had gone for revision of the BPL list alleging that the one prepared during the RJD regime was not proper. Since names which figure on the list are only entitled to the coupons, people across the state are now claiming that in many cases it's families who are not so poor who figure on the list.
In Marhaura of Saran district coupons could not be distributed last Monday as a large number of people went on the rampage. The protest turned so violent that the panchayat secretary had to run for his life. In Darauli of Siwan district, agitated people chased away the BDO and the panchayat secretary when they started distributing coupons recently. Similar protests have also been reported from many other panchayats of the state. In some cases panchayat secretaries have been suspended for failure to rectify mistakes in the BPL list.
Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi today said the Nitish Kumar government was a complete failure as far as implementing poverty alleviation schemes sponsored by the Centre went. “The poor are being crushed by the present government. The BPL list is full of above poverty line people and the employment guarantee scheme has failed in the state,” she said.
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