Economist Jean Dreze in Patna. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Oct. 1: An IIT, Delhi study has found that BPL families in Bihar are getting less than half the quota earmarked for them as part of the public distribution system.

The institute carried out the survey on the public distribution system state of affairs in nine states, including Bihar. Though the findings for Bihar were not encouraging, the study found “evidence of major improvements” in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The survey was held between May and June and covered 1,200 BPL and Antyodaya families, including 144 households in Nalanda and Katihar districts of Bihar. “This survey is neither to criticise nor to eulogise the Bihar government. We have just come up with some facts that came to the fore during the survey on the condition of the public distribution system in the state,” professor Jean Dreze said today.

The economist, who was earlier associated with Delhi School of Economics and is now with Allahabad University, has co-ordinated the survey along with Dr Reetikia Khera.

“During the survey, we found that BPL households in Bihar are getting less than half (45 per cent) of their entitlement. But this is much better than what it used to be five years ago,” Dreze said. He, however, minced no words to say that Bihar finished at the bottom of the list of states that were covered by the survey.

“The public distribution system in the state is in a desperate need for a revamp. We have found that 70 per cent of BPL households in the state skipped meals during the three months preceding the survey period. The comparative percentage of the nine states is 22,” Dreze said.

“Of the people who skipped meals in the state, 13 per cent belonged to families who survived on rice or roti once in the evening,” he added. A BPL family is supposed to get 15kg of rice at Rs 6.7 a kg and 10kg of wheat at Rs 5.22 a kg from the public distribution system.

“Bihar needs to initiate some major reforms as its coupon system has failed to deliver,” Khera said.

The public distribution system has improved in some states as many governments have initiated reforms in the sector through de-privatisation of ration shops, doorstep delivery of grains to fair price outlets, lower issue price, regular distribution schedule, transparency and grievance rectification provision, and computerisation of records, Khera said.