People's Democracy

THE DEMANDS

1. Universalisation of the public distribution system. The right to cheap foodgrains through a strengthened rationing system be made a fundamental right.

2. As an interim measure all BPL cardholders to be given foodgrain at Rs 3 per kg rice and Rs 2 per kg wheat (Antyodaya scheme prices). All widows, single adult women, disabled persons, persons over the age of sixty and female headed families, regardless of whether they have BPL cards or not, to be given immediate access to grain at these prices.

3. Ration quotas to be individual-based, not family-based.

4. The right to work be made a fundamental right. Guaranteed employment scheme with minimum wages and parity between men and women. The earlier provision for minimum 30 per cent of work days generated for women, to be implemented.

5. The foodgrain component of all employment related schemes, including food for work schemes, to be calculated at current Antyodaya prices.

6. A radical change in measurements of poverty, to include other factors such as malnourishment and percentages of family income spent on food requirements, as well as collection of gender-segregated data.