New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over the ineffective distribution of subsidised essential goods, noting that while many States claim to provide rations to Below-Poverty-Line (BPL) families, the benefits often do not reach the intended beneficiaries.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh criticized the States for using ration cards as a mere statistical tool to project welfare efforts.
“Ration cards have become ‘popularity cards’ now. States boast about the number of cards issued, but the real question is whether the benefits are actually reaching the deserving poor,” Justice Kant remarked.
The observations were made during the hearing of a suo motu case initiated in response to the hardships faced by migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, pointed out that a significant number of migrant workers are unable to access ration benefits despite being entitled to them.
He highlighted that out of nearly 30 crore migrant workers registered on the Central government’s eSHRAM portal, over 8 crore lack ration cards.
“Many poor people have even stopped applying for ration benefits as they do not expect to receive them. The ground reality is stark—80% of the population is struggling with food insecurity,” Bhushan argued.
The Court underscored the need for accountability in the distribution of ration and questioned the contradictions in State policies.
“Some States claim economic growth with rising per capita income, but at the same time, they categorize 75% of their population as BPL. This inherent conflict must be addressed to ensure food security for the deserving,” Justice Kant stated.
The Bench further emphasised the need for transparency in the issuance of ration cards and cautioned against politicisation of the process.
“I have not lost touch with the realities of the poor. Some families remain in poverty despite policy interventions. Ration distribution should be based on genuine need, not on political calculations,” Justice Kant added.
Responding to the Court’s concerns, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Central government, informed that approximately 81.35 crore people are covered under the National Food Security Act, with an additional 11 crore beneficiaries under another scheme.
The Supreme Court stressed the urgency of ensuring that ration benefits reach the most vulnerable and directed authorities to take concrete steps to eliminate irregularities in the system.
