Labourers forced to stand in km-long queue for packet of food

The BBMP's food distribution system has proved inadequate in at least 20 yards that have a high number of needy persons, trade union representatives said on Thursday.

A video shot by CITU leader Pratap Simha showed people standing in the queue that stretched for nearly a kilometre at T Dasarahalli, a system which not only made the wait longer but showed the difficulty of enforcing social distancing.

Activists said the government should intervene, to immediately correct BBMP's food distribution system to reduce the queues. "They are being given food because they have been denied of labour. The government should intervene to streamline the system. Volunteers should be roped in and multiple counters should be set up to serve food which increases the chance of crowding," the activist said.

Welcoming the Labour Department's move to include trade union leaders as representatives, he said such inclusiveness has helped in identifying the beneficiaries. "We are particularly disappointed with the BBMP, whose distribution network has been unable to serve the needy persons. We have seen such problems in at least 20 wards," he said.

DH sent the video to BBMP Commissioner B H Anil Kumar seeking a response and possible corrective measures. There was no reply from the commissioner until the time of going to the press.

Gaps in Dasoha app

The Dasoha app developed by the labour department to supply food to the needy has been seen as a major step in ensuring food security of labourers, but representatives said there was no mechanism to check whether their actual requirements were met.

On Thursday, labour representatives raised a request for 10,000 packets of food. "We got a call from the officials stating that the food will arrive at Madanayakanahalli on Mysore Road.

"We were shocked to see that there were only 3000 packets for the 10,000 packets of the cooked food. The app doesn't provide for a mechanism for us to raise a complaint, which can, in turn, be escalated to people in power. This gap is being exploited by some persons who are diverting the food," Simha said.

Secretary of Karnataka Building and Other Construction Welfare Board V V Jyotsna, who is heading the scheme, said the app was launched only a few days ago and "we are still addressing some technical issues".

She said efforts were on to reduce queues by distributing dry ration kits. "One lakh dry ration kits, each with two-week supplies for an individual, are procured by the Board and are under distribution by BBMP and Bangalore Urban and rural DCs. It will reduce the pressure for cooked food in the coming days," she said.

She noted that the Board can sponsor only for construction workers. "In the case of other needy people, the government takes care under SDRF. If more demand comes from construction workers more food/ration will be supplied," she said.