New Delhi, Mar 19: The Supreme Court expressed serious concern on Wednesday over the ineffective distribution of subsidized essential goods, highlighting that while many States claim to provide rations to Below-Poverty-Line (BPL) families, the intended beneficiaries often do not receive the benefits.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh criticized States for treating ration cards as mere statistical tools to project welfare efforts, rather than ensuring actual delivery of benefits. Justice Kant remarked, “Ration cards have become ‘popularity cards’ now. States boast about the number of cards issued, but the real question is whether the benefits are actually reaching the deserving poor.”
The remarks were made during a hearing on a suo motu case triggered by the hardships faced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing petitioners, pointed out that millions of migrant workers are unable to access ration benefits despite being entitled to them. He revealed that over 8 crore migrant workers, out of nearly 30 crore registered on the Central government’s eSHRAM portal, lack ration cards.
The Court questioned the contradictions in State policies, noting that some States report economic growth while simultaneously categorizing 75% of their population as BPL. Justice Kant emphasized the need for food security for the deserving and transparency in the issuance of ration cards.
In response, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed that 81.35 crore people are covered under the National Food Security Act. The Court directed authorities to take immediate steps to eliminate irregularities and ensure ration benefits reach the most vulnerable.
Tags: Northlines
