States using ration cards for optics; are benefits reaching BPL persons? Supreme Court asks

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that while many States boast of supplying subsidised essential goods to those in need through the ration system, such ration often do not reach the intended beneficiaries - Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. .A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh also said that ration cards are used for optics by States which claim they have issued "these many ration cards".The Court made the observation while hearing a suo motu case registered in the wake of difficulties faced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the issues flagged by advocate Prashant Bhushan during today's hearing of the matter was that several migrant workers were not able to secure the ration benefits that they are entitled to. This prompted the Bench to flag concern over the misuse of ration cards by others who do not deserve ration supplies. "Our concern is - are benefits meant for genuine BPL (families) percolating to those pockets who do not deserve it? Ration card has become 'popularity card' now. States just say 'we have issued these many' etc. ... There are some States. When they want to show their development they will say 'per capita income is growing.' And then when we talk of BPL, they (say) '75 per cent is BPL' ... How can these be reconciled? The conflict is inherent. We have to ensure that it reaches the deserving people," Justice Kant observed. .Are benefits meant for genuine BPL (families) percolating to those pockets who do not deserve it?Supreme Court.Advocate Prashant Bhushan today told the Court that out of about 30 crore migrant workers registered on the Central government's eSHRAM portal (a centralised database of unorganized workers meant to help them secure social security services), over 8 crore of such migrant workers do not have ration cards. He added that many poor people have indicated that they do not apply for ration benefits since they do not expect to get it anyway. "The poor have written, 'why to apply for it since we do not get ration?' ... 80 per cent of the population is very very poor. They are all in need of food security," Bhushan said. .The Court noted that this is a genuine issue, and that efforts should be taken to ensure that the poor get the ration that they are entitled to. "We hope that in the issuance of ration cards, there is no politicised element in it ... I have not lost my roots. I always want to know plight of poor people. There are families who continue to be poor," Justice Kant added. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Central government, told the Court that today, about 81.35 crore people are covered by schemes provided for under the National Food Security Act. Another 11 crore people are covered by another similar scheme, she said..[Read Live Coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.