PTG Dakia Yojana which is a free rice scheme has been announced in Jharkhand for providing free rice to PTG families. The scheme will provide benefits to the 70,000 (Primitive Tribal Group) PTG families by providing them food grain at their door-steps under PTG Dakia Yojana.
The Primitive Tribal Group families will be provided with a packet of 35 kg rice every month. The door to door distribution of rice packets will be handled by the employees of Food and Civil Supplies Department.
via Areas Covered
The government has formally launched the free rice scheme in three districts
- Godda,
- Sahebganj
- Palamu
The above areas are selected for the launch of the scheme because they have a relatively higher concentration of PT-G’s.
Women self-help groups will manage the work of creating rice packets which would help to make them financially strong covering all the states.
Total 32 tribal groups are living in Jharkhand state of which only eight group have been categorised as PGTs including, Asur, Birhor, Paharia (Baiga), Sabar, Birajiya, Korwa, Mal Pahariya and Souriya Paharia.
As per the information, these selected PGTs are low on literacy and the average monthly income of these families is Rs 1,000 or even less. Usually, these families remain aloof from the usual settlements. Under the scheme, the government would give them only rice, and not wheat, as that is what the PTGs prefer in their diet.
Nearly 70,000 families of primitive tribal groups (PTG), many of whom are facing prospects of dwindling numbers, will now get foodgrains at their door-step with the state government launching PTG Dakia Yojana. Under the scheme, the employees of the Food and Civil Supplies Department would go door-to-door of these families every month with a packet of 35 kg rice.
Primary Tribal Groups
Before digging deep into the features and purpose of the scheme, it is important to know what is meant by the term “PTG.” The term PTG is the full form for Primitive Tribal Group. It is used to mark those backwards, illiterate and very poor tribes in the areas of Jharkhand.
Objective
The main purpose of the PTG Dakia Yojana is to provide the poor and backwards families, belonging to the PTG with 35 kg of rice on a monthly basis. The rice will be provided to each of the families free of cost. The program will assist the government in providing food grains for the families and they will at least have food in their stomachs. All the 70,000 households will be provided with the free food grains direct to their homes.
Eligibility
- Only those families, which fall under the Primitive Tribal Group and have been recognised as poor, will be able to get the benefit of the scheme.
- It is mandatory for the people to be the legal residents of the state in which the scheme has been implemented. Thus, only the people of Jharkhand, Bihar will be able to get the benefits of the program.
- An income of not more than Rs. 1000 on a monthly basis.
- For getting the application granted, the families will have to belong to any one of the eight groups, which have been highlighted by the state government.
Features
- Under the program, the PTG families of the state of Jharkhand and some of the areas of Bihar will be provided with rice grains to ensure the survival of the tribal people, living in these parts,
- According to the announcement of the government, the program will provide a free packet of rice to each of the families. The weight of each packet will be 35kg. The packets for rice distribution will be made by the women operated self-help associations.
- As most of the families consist of frail women, children and elderly people, it has been decided that the rice packets will be direct to the door steps of the selected families.
- Under the program, the government will bring about as many as 70,000 families and provide free food grains to them.
Conclusion
Food is the basic right and necessity of each and every individual. This is a very sensible step towards betterment and has its roots all strong and firm. Development starts at the basic level and economic equality help to achieve it. Provision of basic facilities should not seem luxuries to the poor. This scheme benefits a section of our society and provides basic facilities which they need the most.