Food security was one of the most important concern when DBT was rolled out in the ration system. In several policy level discussion it is assumed that it will not only threaten the food security of the common people but it will be a disaster when it will be implemented in the rural belt. The food security and hunger of the poor people will be on the stake and it will give an open hand to the market force to play with the grain market for profit. The different concern of the farming community when rural India is facing tremendous pressure from depleting profit margin in the agriculture sector will not only increases with rolling out of the DBT in the Ration system but it will push the fate of farmers in the hand of the market force.
The PDS system which is functional in every Nukad and corner of the country has an important role in ensuring the food security of the poor and vulnerable section of the society. At present PDS system is blamed for leakage, corruption and inefficiency but it still act as a platform through which the hunger among the masses are controlled. The eight lakh PDS distributor all across the country in close coordination with the FCI ensure smooth transfer of food grains to the poor at the subsidized rate. The poor people are very familiar with this system and even sometime they force the system to function in a better way. This also controls the price fluctuation and at the same time this distribution process forces the FCI to buy grains at the MSP rate from the peasants all over the country.
The greater part of the debate is that our country homes 1.25 billion people. The data of the Government shows that 30% of the total population are under the poverty line. The poverty estimation data which is based on the earning of 18 rs/day for the rural belt and 22 rs/day for urban belt shows the lapses in the entire system, so for ensuring the food security among the masses can DBT will be the best suited mechanism which will ensure the food security of millions of people at the Pan India level??? Even in the studies and research done by several Government organization it is seen that the Food security of the common people is threatened by the transfer of money in the account of the people as it is not utilized for buying food.
Our argument is that if we go for a overall change in the system in the name of efficiency will it be able to ensure food security among the masses which is the main motto of the PDS system, and if the money which will be transformed on the account of the beneficiaries will be sufficient to ensure the food security, and what is the chance that it will be not diverted for different purpose?? This will be the main threat with which we always have to fight when DBT will be rolled out as a substitute in the Ration system. Another argument was that through DBT how much money will we be able to save. The mass transformation of the whole system which will directly exclude 10 lakhs of the PDS dealer in one go can be more productive and how these people will be compensated??
The Government has to allot large chunk of subsidy in the budget, but at the same time the counter argument is that, it is meant for ensuring the food security and if this system is changed with another system will it ensure the food security concern of the masses. The saving through the DBT scheme is very less when it is compared with the PDS system and the question of loss and gain in the monetary term is out of box thinking, so for ensuring the food security DBT seems not a suitable option in the present scenario and should not be forced on the people who really needs the ration system.
