Ground reality of PDS system in Abujhmad, Kanker, tribals have to travel miles for ration.

Kanker: The government has made arrangements for ration shops to provide free ration to the tribals. Under this, ration shops are being operated in remote villages. But there are no ration shops in some villages of Kanker and Narayanpur. Therefore, the residents here have to bring ration from the nearby village. This nearby village is also not just one or two but 35 kilometers away. Therefore, it is not easy for the villagers to bring ration for their family. Still, the tribals arrange two meals a day for themselves after walking for miles.

Villagers rejected the administration’s claim: There are many villages in Abujhmad of Bastar where roads have not been built till date. This was the reason due to which ration shops were not opened. But the villagers reject the administration’s claim of no roads. According to Sukalu Mandavi, a resident of Gram Panchayat Pangur, a ration warehouse has been built in the village in 2019. A truck comes to the forest to cut bamboo. But I don’t know why the ration cart does not come. Due to which, for 35 kg rice, one has to go to a small shop 35 kilometers away. The villagers decide the journey to Bethia village.

Donation for bringing ration by tractor: According to villager Lachu Vadda, villagers have to donate Rs 200 per family. Only after this a tractor is arranged for ration. Those who do not have money have to leave two days in advance to get ration. Tribals stop on the way and then reach Chhotebethiya village the next day and bring ration.

Same condition in Narayanpur district: Apart from the Gram Panchayats of Kanker, the condition of ration shops in Narayanpur district too is the same. Most of the problems in Narayanpur come during the rains. Because many rainy rivers are in spate. Due to which ration is not available in the ration shops. In such a situation, due to shops not opening, people face difficulty in getting ration. In such a situation, you can imagine how the tribals would survive for three months without ration.

Which villages are suffering the most: If we talk about Kanker and Narayanpur, apart from Konge, Pangur, there is problem of ration in dozens of villages like Kodonar, Boranirpi, Bionar, Korskodo, Sitram, Aaldand, Muspersi, Garpa, Binagunda, Hachekoti, Amatola. The tribals of Abujhmad have to walk to places like Koyalibera, Orchha to get rice. According to Kanker district food officer Janmejay Nayak, 33 PDS shops are in inaccessible areas. Which we call inaccessible areas. In these 33 shops we store food grains for four months during the rainy season. Considering the Panchayat as a unit, one ration shop has been built in one Panchayat.

“According to the circumstances or the demand of the people, if there is no financial loss to the government, another shop can be opened. It is not that ration does not reach due to roads. We do storage. There is no information about walking 35 kilometers to get ration.” Janmejay Nayak, Food Officer.

When will the administration take notice? : Even if the government is providing PDS rice facility to the people. But many people are deprived of taking benefits of the PDS scheme. Even today, many villages do not have government ration shops. Even today, tribals have to travel through difficult jungle paths to get ration. The administration can excuse itself by saying that it does not have information. But this is not the case of any one village. Is. Now after the pictures have surfaced, the government administration should take care of these villages and provide proper arrangements for ration, so that the tribal families do not have to struggle for their rights.

Courtesy : Etv Bharat

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