PREFACE
PUCL filed case (PUCL vs. UoI & Ors. CWP 196/2001) in the Supreme Court in 2001. Since then The Hon’ble Supreme court has issued many directives to the central & state governments to implement food, health & work schemes to eradicate poverty and malnutrition in this country. For the monitoring of schemes, it has appointed two commissioners in the country & Commissioners in their turn have appointed advisors in each state to report on status of schemes.
As the advisor of the state, I with the support of research team have prepared two survey reports of food schemes. One survey report covered 40 villages in 4 districts and second covered 33 villages in 7 districts. Grievances of beneficiaries were raised through two people’s hearing in Araria and Gaya.
Time to time I have reported complaints of beneficiaries to the concerned authorities for their redressal. I was part of three joint enquiries conducted by the Government of India into Mid Day Meal scheme, Starvation deaths and homeless problems.
To raise people’s awareness about welfare schemes I have conducted activities- meetings, workshops, and training of villagers & pasted poster with govt. schemes at public places in villages of Gaya district.
As a pilot project, I have undertaken 19 villages for survey and to deal with problems of people who are enlisted for benefits under food schemes. A report on status of food schemes of Gaya district in general of Gaya and report cards of each 19 villages in particular is presented to the government of Bihar.
In order to build up people’s capacity to demand entitlements regarding food, health and work schemes I have created village committees, vigilance committees & nyay dal.
Report on starvation deaths occurring in different part of Bihar during the period 2004 to 2008 was combined in a report in 2008-09. This report is submitted to the State Government One-two cases of starvation are still occurring and we are reporting the same to the Government.
We thank Government officials, media persons, local PUCL unit, social groups, academicians, activists and like minded people working on this issue for their contribution to the report. We are grateful to their suggestions and critical appraisal of the report. We hope that this report will work as a feedback to the Government and social groups to make strategies for eradication of malnutrition, employment generation and better health system.
RUPESH
INTRODUCTION
The Bihar Government has heavily invested in infrastructure and service sector resulting into annual growth rate hovering around 7-11 percent at current prices in the span of six years. Per Capita income according to the government sources has gone up; literacy has improved particularly among girls. Nevertheless, the gap between rich and poor has widened. The number of destitute in cities has increased. Overall growth of the economy does not cater to the interests of the masses.
Agriculture being the mainstay of economy, supporting 80 percent of the population and providing food security has not received as much finances and technological support as required and so is not on the path of recovery. This has led to further decline in production of food grains. Besides, drought and flood in the last five years have destroyed agriculture.
Decline in investment in agriculture, and allied activities, irrigation projects, water harvesting facilities by the Government has resulted into rise in unemployment in rural areas, poverty and inequality. This has also led to migration of youths to other part of Countries to seek livelihood. People of marginalized communities have slipped into the trap of poverty induced hunger. They do not get enough food to survive, let alone nutritious food. Malnourishment among children and women is still and age old story.
To address the issues of malnourishment and hunger, various social security schemes which were launched in 1990s should have been implemented. Non implementation of all schemes has further aggravated the miserable condition of poor masses.
In the wake of prevailing starvation situation and government stores filled with grains, the PUCL filed petition: PUCL Vs UOI & ors. Writ Petition (Civil) No. 196/2001) in the Supreme Court. Since then, the Honb’le Court has passed many directives for strict implementation of welfare schemes.
Acting as advisor to the Supreme Court Commissioners, I along with my team have been surveying the status of implementation and preparing reports since 2007.
In 2010-11 we have completed following activities which highlight starvation situation and failure of the government to control it. All food, work & health schemes are malfunctioning. Our activities have substantially energized beneficiaries to demand benefits of the schemes: ICDS, MDM, TPDS, NMBS, NFBS, NOAPS, MGNREGA & NRHM.
Survey on Implementation of food related schemes 2010:
We conducted survey of food security schemes ICDS, MDM, TPDS, NMBS, NFBS, NOAPS and prepared a detail report which was submitted to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court and the government of Bihar as well. Survey was conducted from October 2009 to February 2010 in 40 villages of 10 blocks in 4 districts- Araria, Samastipur, West Champaran and Gaya. On the basis of our observation of status of scheme we prepared recommendations and presented to the Commissioners and the Bihar Government.
See Report 2010 & 2011 please click links below:
Report 2010:
People’s Hearings at Gaya & Araria
During the survey we found that there were many hindrances like rampant corruption, irregularities and negligence on the part of officials concerned with the implementation of the schemes. This was discussed in as many as five meetings with local activist in Gaya. So, we decided that people’s pressure on the implementing authorities was required. Hence, two people’s hearings were organized in Araria and Gaya respectively. Around one thousand people participated in both the people’s hearings.
(Annexure- I) See Report please click links below:
Gaya People's Hearings Report:
Araria People's Hearings Report:
Meeting of Advisor’s committee members
Meeting of members of committee was held on 17.07.2010 in A.N. Sinha Institute. They discussed issues relating to food security in Bihar and how to improve functioning of various schemes.
Joint enquiry into grievances of beneficiaries of food schemes
A joint enquiry team, comprising National Advisor of the Supreme Court Commissioners, Bihar advisor and government officials was constituted to look into grievances of beneficiaries in three districts- Araria, Muzaffarpur and Gaya. The report was prepared and sent to the Commissioners and the Govt. of Bihar.
(Annexure- II) See Report please click links below:
Problems of destitute at Patna Junction
A survey report of destitute living around Patna Junction was also made and sent to the Govt. Some destitute in critical condition due to starvation were sent to the PMCH with the help of district administration and our intern. A survey report was also prepared on the wretched condition prevailing in different wards.
(Annexure- III) See Report please click links below:
Study on Homeless in winter session
Survey of destitute, old, men, women and children living under open sky in severe cold winter was conducted and reported to the commissioner and the govt. of Bihar. It was also recommended to the Govt. to arrange tents, quilts and warm clothes.
(Annexure- IV) See Report please click links below:
Commissioner’s visit on Homeless issues
The Supreme Court’s Commissioner, Mr. Harsh Mandar along with Dr. Sajjad Hasan visited Bihar on 28th of December. He took up the issue of homeless with concerned officials of Bihar Government. Also he held discussion with many NGOs and activists in A.N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies.
Joint inspection of shelter homes during night time
A joint inspection team of officials concerned and nominees of Advisor to the Supreme Court Commissioners was formed in the wake of the Supreme Court order regarding homeless in the country in the month of January 2011. It was authorized to inspect all shelter homes in eight commissionaires and to report the same to the Supreme Court.
(Annexure- V) See Report please click links below:
Meeting with different organizations in Gaya
A meeting on the prevailing status of food security schemes was held on 29th December 2010 in Advisor’s office, Patna in which activists of Gaya district participated. All activist shared detail information about status of schemes like MDM, ICDS, TPDS, NREGA, NOAPS, NMBS, NFBS and NRHM in their respective fields. Resource person from PHRN, Mr. Arun Kumar, shed light on objectives and functioning of NRHM.
(Annexure- VI) See Report please click links below:
Capacity building programme of Nyaydal in Gaya
On 28.01.2011 programme for training of Nyay Dal in each of six Panchayats of two blocks – Barachatti and Mohanpur in Gaya district was organized by Lok Parishad in Barachatti. Apart from 54 members of six Nyay Dal, many Sarpanch, Panch & villagers participated in the training programme. Total number of participants including members of Nyay Dal was 82.
Training programme was organized to educate the participants about Food Security schemes & Health schemes and redressal mechanism.
(Annexure- VII) See Report please click links below:
Workshop with volunteers regarding Food security schemes in Gaya
Workshop was held with volunteers for survey of food, health & work schemes in the first week of February 2011. They were acquainted with formats, methods and other information necessary for survey.
(Annexure- VIII) See Report please click links below:
Intervention through pilot project in Gaya
As a pilot project we took up 19 villages in two blocks of Gaya for making poor beneficiaries aware about their rights concerning food, health and work schemes. For this we constituted Village committee, Vigilance committee at village level and Nyay Dal at Panchayat level. All the members were given required trainings such as filing of applications, and how to put their complaints before the official concerned for redressal. Panchayat Kachahari is motivated to redress of grievances of people covered under various schemes. We put complain-box in every panchayat. Village report card with detailed socio economic condition and status of every scheme was prepared. District report of Gaya was also prepared.
Village Report Card See Report please click links below:
Survey of Implementation of food related schemes 2011:
Survey report of status 2010-11 of all scheme 33 villages including 19 in Gaya and 2 villages in each 6 districts were conducted and report was finalized.
State & District Survey Report See Report please click links below:
State Report 2011:
Gaya District Report 2011:
State consultation on “Food security and Nutrition”
Two days state consultation from 16th - 17th April 2011 on “Food Security and Malnutrition” was jointly organized in A.N. Sinha Institute of social Studies, Patna by A.N. Sinha Institute, Advisor (Bihar) to the Commissioners of the Supreme Court and Oxfam India. The important speakers were Sri Vyasji Mishra, Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Sri Tripurari Sharan, Principal Secretary, Food and Consumer Department, Sri Vijoy Prakash, Principal Secretary, Planning Department, D.M. Diwakar, Director, A.N. Sinha Insititute, Praveen Kumar Pravind, Oxfam India, Kavita Srivastava, Vice-President PUCL, Mr. Rupesh, Advisor to Commissioners of the Supreme Court, Biraj Patnayak, Dr. M. N. Karna and others. The consultation was divided into six sessions. First session did focus on inauguration, presentation of State Report on Food security and Malnutrition, food programme of Bihar government. Second session focused on proposed food entitlement act and NAC proposal on Right to Food Act. Third session focused on accountability of Govt. departments concerning food security schemes. Fourth session discussed flood, drought, drinking water and food crisis in Bihar. Fifth session discussed the Supreme Court order on homeless and joint survey report. Six session focused on right to food campaign and joint activities.
(Annexure- IX) See Report please click links below:
People from all walks of life participated in this programme. Many activists from different organizations working in various capacities for eradication of poverty, improvement in health care system, academicians and social workers gave their opinion on how to improve upon hunger situation which has been prevailing over a decade. All were of the view that coordination and cooperation amongst civil society, social workers and NGOs working in the field of food security, health and employment generation in collaboration with state machinery can abolish starvation from Bihar.
Effects of our activities on beneficiaries and common people are that they are demanding entitlements regarding “Food Security and Nutrition”. Officials concerned have begun listening to the complaints of beneficiaries. Grievance redressal mechanism in the form of vigilance committees at village level, Nayay Dal at Panchayat level are developed. Vigilance committee members register complaint of villagers and forward it to officials concerned for redressal. Time to time researcher from Advisor Office go along with officials concerned to monitor various schemes. Political parties and different social groups working in this field have put issues relating to various welfare schemes in their agenda.
