PROVIDING FREE FOOD FOR THE POOR

India is still a poor country according to many analysts although there are rich to very rich people live in this country.

Poverty is prevalent in the Indian soil since Independence, and even today people talk about poverty and classify ‘below poverty line’ and ‘above poverty line’ people.

Why do we have poverty in India?

In spite of various attempts to abolish poverty, it continues to be there with us.

I used to think, whether it is possible to drive away poverty?

Economists of our country talk at length about the poor and poverty.

Politicians too talk about it and claim that they are trying to alleviate poverty by adopting appropriate measures.

But still we live with those poor people who suffer with high degree of poverty.

‘On one side we see food is being wasted; at the same time a section of people are starving without sufficient food’ – many political parties claim.

But, what to do?

The government is buying food grains (wheat and rice) from farmers after each harvest and stocks them in go-downs which are very poorly maintained.

Since the space available to stock large quantity of food grains is limited, they are stored in open areas with adequate polythene sheet covers.

In whichever manner food grains are stored considerable quantity is eaten away by rodents like rats.

Because of the poor storage, moisture due to rain spoils much of the food grains.

Such spoilage has been shown in TV screens for the public view.

We all feel that it is sheer waste of food grains which are needed badly for the poor people of the country.

The Ministry of Food maintains the Food Corporation of India which has a network of go-downs all over the country to store food grains.

The maintenance is inadequate as a result we lose large quantity of our valuable food grains.

Recently the Supreme Court of India ordered that excess food grains may be given free to the poor people who need them badly.

The order stirred a storm in the ruling party and it was in a fix because it has to obey the Supreme Court’s order.

The Prime Minister said that the Supreme Court should not go into the realm of policy formulation which the voice of democracy.

Aptly said!

Why Supreme Court? – Anyone will decide to give away the rotting food grains free to the poor!

But how to do it is the question?

Who should be given and how long it should be given?

Is it sufficient to meet the requirement of the poor?

 These are some pertinent nagging questions the government has to think of.

The best compromise would be to distribute food grains at subsidized rates will the Food Corporation of India come forward with modern technology in grain storage.

Much is said often about the rotting food grains.

Now, after the Supreme Court’s order and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s reply, the issue, I hope will be taken up in a war-footing and provide free or subsidized food for the poor.