Home

Follow Countercurrents on Twitter 

Why Subscribe ?

Popularise CC

Join News Letter

Editor's Picks

Press Releases

Action Alert

Feed Burner

Read CC In Your
Own Language

Bradley Manning

India Burning

Mumbai Terror

Financial Crisis

Iraq

AfPak War

Peak Oil

Globalisation

Localism

Alternative Energy

Climate Change

US Imperialism

US Elections

Palestine

Latin America

Communalism

Gender/Feminism

Dalit

Humanrights

Economy

India-pakistan

Kashmir

Environment

Book Review

Gujarat Pogrom

Kandhamal Violence

WSF

Arts/Culture

India Elections

Archives

Links

Submission Policy

About CC

Disclaimer

Fair Use Notice

Contact Us

Search Our Archive

Subscribe To Our
News Letter



Our Site

Web

Name: E-mail:

 

Printer Friendly Version

The Case Against Cash Transfers In Public Distribution System

By A Group of Researchers

22 July, 2011
Countercurrents.org

To

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister of India

Respected Prime Minister,

We are a group of research scholars and student volunteers who have just spent three weeks surveying the Public Distribution System (PDS) around the country. We are writing to share a few thoughts on the National Food Security Act in the light of this experience.

Our survey covered more than 100 randomly-selected villages spread over nine states (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar , Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh). We inspected the local Fair Price Shops and interviewed more than a thousand “BPL” households. Oblivious of the heat or rain, we reached the country's remotest nooks and crannies and spared no effort to understand people's situation and views.

This survey points to an impressive revival of the PDS across the country. In all the sample states, with the notable exception of Bihar , there have been major initiatives in the recent past to improve the PDS and these efforts are showing results. Most of the sample households were getting the bulk if not the whole of their foodgrain entitlements under the PDS (up to 35 kgs per month, at a nominal price). The days when up to half of the PDS grain was “diverted” to the open market are gone.

We also found that the PDS had become a lifeline for millions of rural households. A well-functioning PDS virtually guarantees that there is always food in the house. This is an enormous relief for people who live on the margin of subsistence, and a welcome support for everyone. It is a big step towards the end of hunger, which has blighted this country for centuries.

The bad news is that the BPL list is very defective. In many states, entire communities have been left out, and almost everywhere, there are enormous exclusion errors. This has severely reduced the effectiveness of the PDS as a tool of food security. Therefore, we support the case made recently by a group of academic economists for a "near-universal PDS", whereby all households are entitled to food subsidies unless they meet well-defined exclusion criteria.

The said economists also believe that there is a strong (though unspecified) “theoretical case” for cash transfers as an alternative to the PDS. We discussed this proposal with the respondents, and found that a large majority opposed it. The reluctance was particularly strong in areas with a well-functioning PDS, and among poorer households. Further, we felt that the reasons they gave for opposing cash transfers were generally quite thoughtful and convincing.

In most cases, the reasons pertained in one way or another to food security – an overwhelming concern for poor households. For instance, many respondents were worried that money might be misused or frittered away. Where markets are distant, they wondered where they would buy grain, and how they would cope if there is a sudden increase in local food prices. Even where markets are accessible, there were apprehensions, such as a fear that traders might raise prices if the PDS is closed. Similarly, the local bank was often said to be too far, overcrowded, or difficult to handle. Many respondents had a bitter experience of the banking system in the context of NREGA wage payments. In contrast, the familiarity and convenience of the local Fair Price Shop were widely valued. It is only in areas where the PDS was not working, notably Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh, that we found substantial interest in cash transfers as a possible alternative.

Accordingly, we urge you to ensure that the National Food Security Act includes the strongest possible safeguards against a hasty transition from food entitlements to cash transfers.

We do recognize, of course, that there is enormous scope – and urgent need – for further improvements in the PDS. We have some suggestions on this too, and would be glad to discuss them with you at your convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Anindita Adhikari (i ndependent researcher , Patna )

Ankita Aggarwal (independent researcher, Delhi )

Megha Bahl ( Delhi School of Economics, Delhi )

Pooja Balasubramanian (St. Xavier's College, Mumbai)

Balu ( Jawaharlal Nehru University , Delhi )

B. Lakshmi (Kirori Mal College, Delhi)

Manish Choudhary ( Hindu College , Delhi )

Sakina Dhorajiwala ( Jai Hind College , Mumbai)

Jean Dr è ze ( University of Allahabad )

Anchal Dutt (Law college, Delhi University )

Aashish Gupta ( University of Allahabad )

Aparna John (independent researcher, Delhi )

Purava Joshi (St. Xavier's College, Mumbai)

Samyuktha Kanan (IIT, Madras)

Reetika Khera (IIT, Delhi)

Sirus Joseph Liberio ( University of Mumbai )

Radhika Lokur (St. Xavier's College, Mumbai)

Aleesha Mary Joseph (St. Stephen's college, Delhi )

Swathi Meenakshi ( Anna University , Madras )

Karuna Muthiah (independent researcher, Dindigul)

Bijayani Mohanty (independent researcher, Bhuwaneshwar)

Rajkishore Mishra (independent researcher, Bhuwaneshwar)

Kuber Nag (IIT, Madras )

Sudha Narayanan ( Cornell University )

Soheb Niazi ( Jawharlal Nehru University , Delhi )

Gaurav Poddar (St. Stephen's college, Delhi )

Raghav Puri ( Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore )

Aakriti Rai (St. Xavier's College, Mumbai)

Kshama Raj ( University of Hyderabad )

Alamu Rathinasabapathy ( Jawaharlal Nehru University , Delhi )

Sambhu Sahu (independent researcher, Bhuwaneshwar)

Ria Singh Sawhney (Law college, Delhi University )

Trishna Senapaty ( Delhi School of Economics, Delhi )

Kanika Sharma ( Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi )

Ujjainee Sharma ( Delhi School of Economics, Delhi )

Dipa Sinha (Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi)

Neenu Suresh ( Law College , Delhi University )

Chitrank Upadhyay ( Zakir Hussain College , Delhi )

Jijo Vadukoot ( University of Mumbai )

Eklavya Vasudeva (Law college, Delhi University )

PDS Survey 2011

Selected Findings 

A detailed survey of the PDS was conducted in nine Indian states in May-June 2011 by student volunteers. Two important findings:

1. Evidence of a major revival of the PDS across the country (even in states like Orissa and Uttar Pradesh). Main exception: Bihar .

2. Where PDS works, people much prefer food to cash transfers.

 

 

Average monthly purchase of PDS grain (kg/household)

Average purchase as proportion of full quota a (%)

Proportion (%) of respondents who:

Prefer food to cash

Prefer cash to food

Andhra Pradesh

14.9

99

91

6

Orissa

29.2

97

88

6

Chhattisgarh

33.3

95

90

2

Himachal Pradesh

37.1

93

81

9

Tamil Nadu

17.9

92

71

11

Rajasthan

26.0

87

60

15

Uttar Pradesh

30.7

77

42

34

Jharkhand

24.9

71

66

22

Bihar

11.2

45

21

54

All States

24.0

84

67

18

a "Full quota" refers to PDS grain entitlements of sample households, based on official norms. Additional grain quotas supplied in response to recent Supreme Court orders have been accounted for in Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh; other states did not lift this additional quota. For Orissa, figures pertain to rice only (wheat entitlements are not clear).

Note : The survey was conducted in 106 random-selected villages, spread over two districts in each sample state. It covered 1,227 BPL households (including “Antyodaya” households and related categories). The figures are provisional and subject to minor revisions.

 

 

 

 



 


Comments are not moderated. Please be responsible and civil in your postings and stay within the topic discussed in the article too. If you find inappropriate comments, just Flag (Report) them and they will move into moderation que.