Bhojpur, Bihar:
In Bihar's Bhojpur district, the poor are venting their frustration at the Public Distribution System, by burning cards made available to them under the Antyodaya and Annapura schemes, to provide for subsidised ration to Below Poverty Line families. They say they have got no help from the government at all.
''We have had these cards for ages. But they haven't been of any use,'' said Lalo Devi, villager.
The reason behind this anger is that these cards rarely put any food on the table. And since the drought villagers have got absolutely nothing.
''The government only makes false promises. This won't do. By burning these cards, we have told government that Bhojpur is just the beginning. Many more districts will follow if the government doesn't stock up its ration shops,'' said Charandeep Singh, social activist.
The story of scarcity also dipped in irony.
Bhojpur district has 100 more ration shops than it needs but they have no stocks to give to the people - a statistic of failure that has now become an object of rage.
''We have had these cards for ages. But they haven't been of any use,'' said Lalo Devi, villager.
The reason behind this anger is that these cards rarely put any food on the table. And since the drought villagers have got absolutely nothing.
''The government only makes false promises. This won't do. By burning these cards, we have told government that Bhojpur is just the beginning. Many more districts will follow if the government doesn't stock up its ration shops,'' said Charandeep Singh, social activist.
The story of scarcity also dipped in irony.
Bhojpur district has 100 more ration shops than it needs but they have no stocks to give to the people - a statistic of failure that has now become an object of rage.
