Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti welcome Sharad Pawar’s open opposition to Cash Transfer Scheme in PDS

Nagpur-25^th December 2012

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar addressing massive NCP women rally in Amaravati divisional headquarter of west vidarbha in Maharashtra has strongly opposed UDA Govt. magic vote bank scheme of direct cash  scheme to stop leakages in subsidies in to BPL families in public distribution system (PDS)  which is strongly opposed by tribal and poor of region  and there is massive protest of 26^th December at Pandharkawada in Yavatmal  to oppose cash transfer scheme and Sarad Pawar’s opposition to Aadhar card base mega money rain game plan has been welcome by dying vidarbha tribal and farmers as more than 70% poors identified by Gramsabha and local body   are not covered under food for  BPL families  and subsidies food  to all poor under targeted food security  under proposed food security bill , Kishore Tiwari of Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJAS) informed in press release today

“Sharad Pawar decision to oppose direct cash transfer in PDS is pleasant surprise as he is known for his stand against farmers and poor and pro-MNCs and market forces who are promoting this direct cash transfer scheme in PDS  and this stand will certainly larger implication in UDA moreover will take NCP closer to poor and tribal in maharashtra but same time in maharashtra he should arrange to give subsidies food to  BPL  families listed in 2012  as per provision  food control order 2001”Tiwari added. 

Earlier  Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti (VJS) officially wrote to pawar about the proposed direct cash transfer scheme of subsidy to beneficiaries will adversely affect 10 million tribals and poor people Vidarbha, warning that if the scheme is implemented in Vidarbha, it will also cause massive deforestation.

Tiwari has urged the Centre to suspend the scheme till its implications are not considered and legal status coupled with constitutional validity of Aadhar cards is not approved by Parliament.

The UPA government is planning to give cash to buy food from the market to beneficiaries of Annapurna and Anotyadaya schemes. However, Tiwari warned of food security problem for tribals and other families covered under BPL category.

"Moreover, reducing kerosene quota drastically will lead to large-scale felling of forests. The scheme has not worked well for 25,000 households in Kotkasim, a block in Rajasthan's Alwar district bordering Haryana," said Tiwari.

Our experience has been that beneficiaries will not be able to access the accounts in which the government transfers the money. "Wages under MGNREGA and pension to old widows does not reach them. So what is the guarantee that cash transferred to beneficiary accounts will be utilized for the same purpose," asked Tiwari.

The VJS leader fears this is an attempt to end public distribution system (PDS) to benefit multinationals. The plans to extend cash transfer scheme to food and cooking gas subsidies will also hurt the poor, who should not be left at the mercy of market forces.

The year-old pilot programme on cash transfer in Kotkasim has failed miserably. Most residents complain they did not receive money for one year or at the best got one of the four instalments.

Tiwari said there is a constitutional question mark over validity of much-hyped Aadhar cards too. It cannot be the sole proof for the government scheme for direct transfer of cash to a poor person's account, as banks are not ready to accept Aadhar cards as ID proof, he said.