Open Mike 10: PDS, NREGS (collected links)

Santhosh:

A critical component to such schemes is also identification of BPL
(Below Poverty Line) families. Here is a campaign that LSS (Lok
Shikshan Sansthan) was involved with in Rajasthan.

http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/aidaustin/projects/lss-prayas/bpl/index.html
At the very minimum they use the BPL 2002 census for easy data
maintenanceand kind of track whether a family is BPL or not.

http://nrega.nic.in/presentations/critical_issues_new_distts.htm
http://nrega.nic.in/user_manual_nrega.pdf

There are also other schemes, like the government pension for
individuals in BPL families who are above 65 years old -
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Personal_Finance/Savings_Centre/Govt_may_give_old_age_pension_to_60_yrs_in_BPL/articleshow/2865746.cms

Murali:

This is an interesting summary/report of all the public schemes and programs related to food distribution, PDS, employment schemes etc. in India by a commissioner of the supreme court:

http://www.righttofoodindia.org/data/pds/comrs_sixthreport.doc

Some of the programs available: subsidized rice and wheat through PDS and Antyodaya, ICDS (Integrated child development services), mid-day meals, NSAP (National social assistance program), Annapurna, NREGA etc.

The Right To Food campaign website has more info and links as well:

http://www.righttofoodindia.org/
http://www.righttofoodindia.org/pds/pds_intro.html

Ani:

One of the consequences of PDS has been people moving away from
growing local crops for their subsistence. In many places, the
indigenous crops - usually millets, were grown. With the introduction
of cheap rice etc at the PDS, people find it much easier to buy the
rice and grow cash crops on their land. This has had all kinds of
impacts on the farmers, the soil and water. With PDS also supplying
very specific types of grain (usually rice, wheat and some dals), our
diets have changed accordingly and have become quite like
monocultures.

here are some articles that talks about traditional cropping and PDS:
http://www.indiatogether.org/agriculture/dds/cropsoftruth.htm
http://www.infochangeindia.org/agenda7_06.jsp

So PDS, in its avatar as a central scheme supplying specific kinds of
food, has had a huge impact on farming patterns, food habits,
livelihood, soil and water. Traditional crops that are essential to
food security, as we are now realising, are almost gone. I think NREGA
is likely to result in a situation where people with traditional
skills that might not be fetching them enough money will make use of
this scheme. Skills are lost and no new skill is being learnt in the
process. It might make sense in certain places - it started off to
help people in drought-prone areas but when floated all over the
country, it is not clear what impact this will have.