Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday visited famine-hit Bundelkhand region to distribute releief material, a week after CNN-IBN aired a series of reports on starving farmers
Akhilesh was in Mahoba, one of the worst-hit districts, to launch the Samajwadi Sukha Rahat Samagri Vitaran Karyakram - where free food is given to those categorised as poorest of the poor.
Atta (wheat flour), channa daal (gram), mustard oil, milk powder, potatoes, and ghee were given in the relief packets. This is nothing short of a blessing for the people in Bundelkhand, many of whom were surviving on rotis and salt over the past few months.
The packets came as immediate relief to the distressed farmers who otherwise would have been forced to migrate to make both ends meet.
"This would help or else we would be forced to migrate," said farmer Parmesh Dayal after receiving the relief package.
When asked about how long the scheme would continue, Akhilesh didn't mention a fixed time frame but asserted that it would continue till required.
Intended to benefit over two lakh families, the scheme though leaves out the BPL (below poverty line) category. In Mahoba as the Chief Minister left, there were many who went home empty handed with tears in their eyes.
Abdul Rehman has an 'Antodaya' card but did not get any ration on Thursday and he could not understand why.
"I didn't get anything, I don't know what is the problem," said a distressed Rehman.
And there were other needy people people, equally distressed, all because they didn't have a card with the right colour
Santosh Rani, who does not have either an antodaya or a BPL card, was also in tears, as she blamed a village member of causing mischief.
"When we asked the village member if we are supposed to get anything under the scheme, he said he didn't know anything," she said.
If implemented well, this intervention will provide much-needed relief, but only for a section of the people. For now the fate of those left out continues to hang in the balance.
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