The UPA 2 Government has taken four years after
it announced its intention to legislate a right to food to actually pass the
National Food Security Act. This Bill has been brought forward at a time when
there are 80 million tonnes of grains in the government godowns and increased
public action highlighting widespread hunger. This was an opportune time to
bring in a comprehensive Food Security Act which addressed issues of expanding
production, decentralised procurement and storage and universal distribution
along with special measures to reach out to the most vulnerable. However the
government has missed this opportunity by passing a minimalistic Bill.
While almost every political party raised
issues related to guarantee of income for farmers, assuring
Minimum Support Price, universal coverage under the Public Distribution System(PDS),
including pulses and oil in PDS, the necessity of 14 kgs of foodgrains,
scrapping cash transfers, community kitchens, removal of contractors, the
absurdity of the poverty lines, protecting small and marginal farmers during
the debate in Parliament, unfortunately none of the amendments related to these
got passed. The millions of poor and food insecure in the country who have been
waiting for a comprehensive food Bill may get some small consolation from the
fact that hunger, malnutrition and state’s obligation towards addressing this
was discussed and debated in Parliament for many hours.
