In MP, a Tribal Woman’s Death Throws Spotlight on Unending Queues for Urea – Chinmaya IAS Academy

Context:

The death of Bhuri Bai, a 45-year-old tribal woman from the Sahariya tribe, while waiting in a long queue for urea fertiliser in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh (November 26) has exposed serious governance failures, supply-chain inefficiencies, and socio-economic vulnerabilities in rural India.
The incident has triggered political and administrative responses but raised deeper questions about last-mile delivery of essential agricultural inputs.

Key Highlights:

Incident and Immediate Response

Bhuri Bai belonged to the Sahariya tribe, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG).
She reportedly stood in a urea queue for several hours (up to 16 hours reported in the area).
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the family, announced ₹2 lakh compensation from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, and ordered the suspension of a clerk.

Urea Demand–Supply Situation

Farmers in the region are facing long queues spanning days for urea, a critical input for rabi wheat cultivation.
The Madhya Pradesh government claims no overall shortage, stating that daily supply has been increased to 1,200 metric tonnes (MT).

Ground-Level Bottlenecks

Despite adequate central allocations, issues persist due to:
- Black marketing and diversion
- Mismanagement at Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS)
- Poor crowd management and distribution planning
Measures such as home deliveries and enforcement actions have been announced, but implementation gaps remain.

Structural Factors Behind Rising Demand

Good monsoon rains led to higher water storage and expanded rabi sowing, increasing fertiliser demand.
Increased land cultivation, including encroachment on forest land, has further pushed urea consumption.

Socio-Economic Vulnerability of PVTGs

The Sahariya PVTG is marked by low literacy, chronic malnutrition, and dependence on subsistence agriculture.
The incident highlights how administrative failures disproportionately impact vulnerable communities, turning access to basic inputs into life-threatening ordeals.

Relevant Prelims Points:

Urea: Nitrogen-rich fertiliser crucial for crop growth.
PVTG: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group—most marginalised tribal communities.
Sahariya Tribe: PVTG found mainly in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Rabi Season: Winter cropping season (Oct–May).
Institutions Involved: PACS, State Agriculture Department.

Relevant Mains Points:

Governance (GS II):

Failure of last-mile delivery and crowd management in welfare-linked service delivery.
Need for accountability beyond token punitive actions.
Importance of decentralised planning and real-time monitoring.

Economy & Agriculture (GS III):

Fertiliser distribution inefficiencies despite adequate supply.
Role of subsidised fertilisers in distorting demand and encouraging black marketing.

Indian Society (GS I):

Disproportionate burden of governance failures on PVTGs and marginal farmers.
Intersection of tribal vulnerability, gender, and agrarian distress.

Way Forward:

Implement token-based, time-slotted fertiliser distribution to prevent queues.
Strengthen PACS capacity, digitise inventory, and ensure transparency.
Deploy mobile fertiliser vans in tribal and remote areas.
Address structural issues in fertiliser subsidy policy to reduce leakages.
Integrate social protection measures for PVTGs during peak agricultural seasons.

UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):