CPI Seminar on Food Security photo and punjabi news attached

23/07/2012

A seminar organized by the district unit of the Communist Party of India on FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL called for universal public distribution system to meet the basic needs of a nutritious food for every citizen of India. Despite tall claims of growth by the government 380 million citizens of our country people of our country suffer from hunger and malnutrition. With the present rice in prices 150 million more are expected to face the same fate. Women and children are the worst affected. 60 million children are malnourished with low weight. India has over 160 million hectares of fertile land, which is more than China. But as per the government own reports 2,50,000 farmers have committed suicide during the period 1995 to 2010. This was stated by Mrs.Amarjeet Kaur – Member Central Secretariat of the CPI while addressing the seminar. The CPI along with other left parties has launched a nationwide campaign on the question of food security which will culminate in a dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from 30th July to 3rd August.







The UNO had accepted right to food as the basic human right of every citizen in 1948. This was further accepted by the nations including India in a world food summit in 1996. The government of India now proposes to place a half backed food security bill in the parliament. This bill instead of bringing universal public distribution system splits the society into the Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL). A person falls in the category of BPL if she/he earns Rs.26.00 per day in rural and Rs.32.00 per day in urban areas. If this definition is accepted then 54% of population from rural and 72% from urban areas will be left out of any benefits to be provided by government. This is a mockery. Government has already shown its apathy towards the poor by ignoring the Supreme Court's observations to provide grains to the poor instead of getting it rotten in the stores. It is an irony that the government is planning FDI in retail sector instead of providing food, clean water and shelter to crores of Indian citizens. Therefore, she said that we demand:







1. Cheap and quality ration be supplied to all the citizens through a Public Distribution System and not BPL or APL. Ration should be provided instead of Cash Coupons.



2. Put a check on the hording of food items.



3. Every family should be given 35kg of grain at Rs.2.00 per Kg.



4. The erroneous definition of BPL – APL as given by the planning commission should be rejected.



5. Swminathan committee's report on farmers should be implemented.



6. Clean drinking water should be ensured to all the citizens.







Her speech was followed by inputs by several participants. The district unit assured her of substantial participation in the dhrna at Delhi.



Com Kartar Singh Bowani Dr Arun Mitra



Secretary Distt. Ludhiana Asstt. Secretary Distt. Ludhiana




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