Cash transfer won’t help poor, say activists

Soon after the Delhi government launched a scheme allowing transfer of a monthly cash subsidy of Rs. 600 to two lakh poor families not covered under either the below poverty line (BPL) scheme or Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), activists said such cash transfer would not ensure food security. Darpan Singh reports.

Soon after the Delhi government launched a scheme allowing transfer of a monthly cash subsidy of Rs. 600 to two lakh poor families not covered under either the below poverty line (BPL) scheme or Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), activists said such cash transfer would not ensure food security.

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Social activist Anjali Bhardwaj said, "The identification of two lakh people, who are poor but don't have BPL or AAY cards, shows how poor the BPL coverage in Delhi is. Now that they have been identified, they should at least be given the benefits of BPL subsidies - Rs.1,000 and not Rs.600."

"Cash subsidy is a wrong idea. Food security can only be ensured when poor people get foodgrain. Otherwise, they will end up spending the meager sum on other needs and remain deprived of food," she said.

Meanwhile, the BJP has termed the scheme an 'election stunt'. Vijender Gupta, president of the Delhi BJP, said, "People got nothing from similar schemes announced by the Congress during the previous election."

"Reports about discrimination and corruption are already doing the rounds. The government should clarify what standards it has adopted for selecting the beneficiaries. A poor family cannot manage with just Rs.600," he added.

Mukesh Sharma, Parliamentary secretary to Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, however, said, "We want to work for the people. That's the mandate."