WHILE THE NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL VIA ORDINANCE IN PARLIAMENT Please understand these issues: The draft Act circulated by the Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution dated 4th June 2009 refers to food security as “a situation that exists when all people at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” – FAO, State of Food Insecurity in the World 2001). The draft bill in its current form denies the notion of universal rights, keeps entitlement to as little as 25 kg a month. Food security means a right to food and rights can not be “targeted”, they have to be universal. It plans to do away with the Public Distribution System, which is the core strength of food grain distribution, to be replaced with coupons or cash transfers or smart cards. The Act does not address any of the nutritional needs of the majority of the Indian people – particularly children. The Act did not take into account, in any manner, of the letter and spirit of the SC order in the PUCL ‘right to food’ case. For instance, cccording to the Supreme Court orders in the PUCL vs Union of India case, every BPL family is entitled to 35 kg of grain, while the proposed Right to Food Bill envisages this at only 25 kg. Number of families living Below Poverty Line - Right to food goes beyond the provision of subsidized cereals. It is about ensuring freedom from hunger, malnutrition and other deprivations associated with the lack of food. This requires not only nutritious food (including balanced intake of calories, protein, fats and essential micro-nutrients) but also attention to child care, clean water, hygiene, basic health care and so on. A comprehensive Act will have to look at the determinants of malnutrition to realize the right to food. The Act need to be linked with right to work, right to land and livelihood, the right to health, the right to education and whole set of other economic and social rights in the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution. A combination of structural policies aimed at addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty, specific policies to meet the household needs for long-term access to food and nutrition, local policies based on local needs need to be framed Contradictions: Over Production Vs Starvation Production Vs Distribution Debate – 25 kg Vs 35 kg of food grain Basic issues like minimum wages, access to natural resources, land, agrarian reform, gender justice etc is out of discussion Need for integrating the policies relating to land rights, employment generation, healthcare, education, and housing - if the goal of a hunger-free India is to be achieved. in solidarity with the Right to Food Campaign
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 05:10:25 +0000
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