National
Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)observed 18th September as Demand
Day. The slogan of the Day was “Food Must be our Fundamental Right and it has
to be guaranteed”.
Demonstrations,
dharnas, public meetings etc were organized in all the 26 states where the
organization has its units.
As part of this
Nation -wide programme, a dharna was organized in Delhi by Delhi unit of
NFIW in front of Krishi Bhawan.
NFIW is also
demanding the passage of a comprehensive and universal food security Act.
Even after 3
years of rule, the UPA-2 failed to pass a food security Bill, which they
promised to do within 100 days. Lack of political will and social commitment is
the only reason for this unjustified delay.
The Bill which
is with the Standing Committee speaks only of ‘entitlements not of food
security. A s far as UPA-2 is concerned
food security can be achieved by distributing 25 or 35 kg of rice or wheat to a
limited number of people. This narrow vision of UPA-2 will deprive the real
needy and majority people from food and nutritional security.
When reports
after reports, whether national or international, like Global Hunger Index,
Human Development Report, UNICEF Reports, National Family Health Survey etc
shows India’s place at the bottom, the Central government should have consider
all these and should have brought strategies and provisions to address it through the NFS Bill.
Unfortunately,
instead of doing the sensible thing the
UPA-2 is not only trying to limit even the existing entitlements of wheat and
rice, but also dismantle the existing PDS by cash transfer.
The people are
already reeling under the uncontrolled and escalating price rise, the Central
Government increased the diesel price. This will lead to rise in the price of
all essential commodities which in turn will result in more hunger and
miseries. NFIW is of the opinion that
the FDI in Retail Sector will bring disaster to millions of people who depend
on this sector for their livelihood.
NFIW demands that:
Food should be a
fundamental right and it has to be guaranteed
The Food Security Act
should be Universal and comprehensive
PDS should be strengthened
by bringing back the old system of supplying all essential commodities through
ration shops for as
People need ration not
cash
Clean environment should
be ensured and nutritional security should be guaranteed so that the high rate of MMR and IMR can be controlled
Water security should be
part of the NFS Act
In order to ensure
availability of food grains and pulses and edible oil, decentralized
production, procurement, storage and distribution should be ensured
To ensure access, proper implementation of existing laws like
the MNREGA and schemes like maternity benefit , old age pension etc should be universalized
Leaders of NFIW
Annie Raja, Gargi Chakravartty, Primla Loomba, Renjana Ray, Dr. Usha
Srivasthava, Dr. B.V.Vijayalakshmi, Aruna Sinh also participated in the dharna.
