By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Congress- led UPA Government has finally paved the way for the much touted Food Security Bill – a legislation that is expected to address the problems of hunger and malnutrition.
How far the Ordinance, promulgated on July 5, would go to solve the twin problems of hunger and malnutrition is debatable considering how most schemes are badly executed.
The Shillong Times recently spoke to people from different walks of life and sought their reaction on the Bill which is considered to be the biggest exercise undertaken by any Government in the country and supported by the likes of development economists like Amartya Sen and Jean Dreze
RN Sharan, Professor of Bio-Chemistry NEHU said that the the Bill would empower people at the grass roots as till date a large chunk of the Indian population go to bed hungry or are malnourished. When people don’t eat they remain less productive and it affects the nation as a whole.
He, however, felt that the Government has come out with this policy a little late in the day.
“If this was done thirty or forty years back, India would have been a different entity altogether,” he said while adding that he does not agree with the idea that the initiative is proving expensive for the nation as it will benefit the future generation
The Ordinance on Food Security Bill was signed by President Pranab Mukherjee on July 5, with the aim of providing food grains every month to two-thirds of India’s population at highly subsidized rates. This will be the first issue to be discussed in the monsoon session of Parliament.
On the other hand, social activist Toki Blah said although he is happy at the implementation of the Bill but the Government needs to check wastage of essential commodities in Government godowns.
It may be mentioned that the Food Security Bill is aimed at giving legal rights to 67 percent of the population for a uniform quantity of 5 kg food grains at a fixed price of Rs 1-3 per kg through ration shops.
CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing on the other hand has a different opinion on the Food Security Bill. She says that the Government has come out with the Bill only to be able to add it to their list of achievements before the elections.
“If Government is distributing money why is it being called Food Security Bill,” Kharshiing said while adding that the Bill would not be feasible as it is in short term interest of the UPA-2 Government.
M Iawsai, a law student feels that the Scheme should actually be really called a “Peoples’ Scheme,” if it is implemented in letter and spirit and if it benefits the targeted population. She also hoped that the Bill would prove to be a dream come true scheme for those poor people who sleep without food every night.
Delhi and Haryana will roll out the Food Security Scheme on August 20, Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary.
BJP State Unit general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty has expressed his doubts over the credibility of the bill saying that the Bill was passed hurriedly without any debate when monsoon session is set to begin in few days time “Government should also see that the existent laws are implemented in the most effective manner,” Chakraborty added.