Plan to supply subsidised food packets in Jangalmahal, WB

As part of a comprehensive plan to tackle economic deprivation in Maoist-hit Jangalmahal, the new West Bengal government has planned to distribute subsidised packets of essential food items to BPL families.

"The grinding poverty of the mainly tribal population of the region being the prime cause for the rise of Maoist influence there, the distribution of the subsidised food items would come to be of great help for the people," Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mullick said.
The small packet would contain five essential provisions in small quantities, including pulses, rice and spices, meant for each BPL family of five heads.
The minister said he was currently holding discussion with prospective distributors in this regard.
A sachet of edible oil may also be distributed to the people in Jangalmahal which consists of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts.
He had recently toured the region to see for himself the level of poverty which, he claimed, was "born out of years of neglect by the previous Left Front government".
The minister added his efforts were in line with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee promise of 'Food for all' in the region.
Asked if the plan has the potential to draw Maoist ire, the he said, "I am sure that Maoists will not do anything to disrupt the scheme for fear of losing popular sympathy, and if they indeed prove a stumbling block, steps will be taken."
Giving an example of the degree of deprivation in the tribal-dominated West Midnapore district, Mullick said during a visit to Amlasole in the district he came across a woman purchasing matchsticks from a shop with a few five-paise coins which are still in circulation in the region.
He said the food department also wants to introduce a special food package for the tea gardens in north Bengal which he visited recently.
Slamming the state food department as a "den of corruption," he said there were several complaints regarding its irregular functioning over the years.
Mullick said that 13,000 fake ration cards were seized alone in the Mekhliganj (SC) Assembly constituency in Coochbehar district represented by Forward Bloc leader and former food minister Paresh Adhikary.
He had ordered the officials to take action against those ration dealers who supply food items to fake ration card holders.
"Notice will be put up within two or three days in newspapers appealing to people to submit fake ration cards within 45 days, failing which legal action would be initiated," he said.
The department is considering introducing bar-coded ration cards which could be swiped like an ATM card to draw quota from ration shops.
"It will take around Rs 181 crore to set up the requisite infrastructure," he said.