Image: Prakash Singh/AFP
People in some parts of Delhi rushed to take shelter as hailstones rained down when an unexpected storm raged through the city and left a blanket of cold white pebbles. In another part of the same city real stones were pelted at the gate of municipal school now functioning as a Delhi government’s ration distribution centre, by the hungry who were disappointed that they would not get any grain that day.
According to a report in The Indian Express the ‘stone pelting’ was done by people waiting at West Delhi’s Prem Nagar municipal school when they discovered that food grain was not being distributed on Thursday. Most people who collect rations, or cooked food being distributed by the Delhi Government at different schools around the city, land up early and wait in queue for their turn. They only know the timing of the food distribution and do not have a way of getting an update in the schedule if any. And that is what supposedly happened at this school. There was a change in schedule, which according to the school’s principal, Mahavir Gupta had been pasted on the wall. However, the hungry do not always have the inclination or energy to look out for updates. They just come, and wait in the blazing sun, or dust storm, or rain, and hope to get enough food to survive another day under the current circumstances.
“Ration distribution was not to be done today as Thursday was reserved for paperwork. We had posted a note at the gate. For the past three days,” the principal has been quoted as saying. He also told the IE that ration supplies were not available, but even the fresh stock that came on Wednesday evening will be distributed Friday onwards. Those waiting in line however, were too agitated by then and after arguments pelted stones. The school authorities called the Police to control the situation.
The deployment of uniformed policemen at the spot must have diffused the situation quickly, as no other incidents were reported from that area. As expected the Delhi government spokesperson told the reporter that the matter will be examined and that they will “ensure appropriate supplies reach the centre immediately.”
So far, the government has provided ration to around 25 lakh people not holding PDS cards through the e-coupon system in the first round. Around 71 lakh PDS beneficiaries have also been provided their share of allotment. We will begin the second round of disbursal for non-PDS beneficiaries in the next few days.”
This is not a stray incident, things have flared up, though perhaps not to this extent, and arguments have ensued when people waiting for food discover that the supplies are not enough or have been delayed. “We have to wait for hours to get some food. I go stand in line if I do not get any savaari (fares), if I am working then I do not get this food, but I get some money to buy my next meal” said Guru, a rickshaw puller explaining his balancing act. “This food is for everyone, you should come in time and wait in line, and bring your own bartan (container),” said Seema, a housemaid who was on her way to collect cooked meals at a local government school when we met her on Friday.
Another man, a vegetable vendor who would rather work than wait to get his ration says he does not blame the guards at the school who sometimes have to shout at the people. “Everyone is hungry. Hungry people get angry fast. My sister will wait in line for our share and I will go around the neighbourhood to sell my vegetables before I meet her after a few hours. She can then take the cart and I will wait if our turn has not come,”
Those who don’t have a ration card are using an e-coupon system, for cooked food none of these are needed, said another person waiting in line. None of those still going hungry, or walking hundreds of miles a day with children in tow, know of any politics. None know what stone pelting is. No one knows how stone pelters have been dealt with in areas such as Kashmir. They were not aware of anyone throwing stones or acting violently, but they understood why someone would do that. “The people have no choice. We live here. We have no work, no food. What to do?”
Stone pelting, and verbal protests in such cases are reactions fuelled by desperation. Ironically these are not migrant workers walking back home to other states. These are residents and workers of Delhi who have stayed on, and trusted that the local government will not let them starve.
The IE reported that more such incidents have taken place in centres at Adarsh Nagar, Mangolpuri and Sultanpuri in the past. Their report states that in some places daily coupons issued are disproportionate to the ration stock available.
In far away Madhya Pradesh, another incident of stone pelting was reported by the IE. This incident occurred in a town near the state border, according to reports a few people allegedly threw stones at policemen in frustration. Groups of migrant workers are crossing MP to get back to their home states of Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India. On Thursday, reported IE, one such group protested on the highway at Bijasan Ghat in MP’s Barwani district as they thought there were no buses available for them to travel further. Some from this group of protesters grew agitated and allegedly pelted stones at the policemen stationed there. No injuries were reported and the protest was cleared quickly, said news reports.
Here lies the big question. What will it take for the state to understand that the marginalised do not pick up a stone or a stick because they like to create trouble. They are desperate, hungry, helpless and frustrated, and risk their own security when they protest, because they know the state may take notice if its own property is at risk. Unfortunately, the state often responds by sending the police, when they should be sending urgent food supplies.
Meanwhile, the Steering Committee of the Right to Food campaign released the following statement addressing the plight of hungry migrants.