Food security — of APL, BPL & IPL

,- ih- ,y] ch- ih- ,y vkSj vkbZ- ih- ,y- dh [kk| lqj{kkA

STUDENT-10
Contributed By: Mr. Prem Kumar
Basic IAS Academy
http://www.basicias.com
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Food security — of APL, BPL & IPL
,- ih- ,y] ch- ih- ,y vkSj vkbZ- ih- ,y- dh [kk| lqj{kkA
P. Sainath
The official line is simple. Since we cannot
afford to feed all the hungry, there must only be as
many hungry as we can afford to feed.
1.There was irony in the timing of the petrol price
decontrol order. The decision, which also covered major
hikes in diesel and kerosene prices, and affects hundreds
of millions of people, came even as Manmohan Singh
advised world leaders in Toronto on the need for “inclusive
growth.” And while we are still debating “food security”
and how best that should be achieved in law. It came
while food price inflation edges towards 17 per cent and
general inflation is in double digits. Who are we trying to
“include” in that growth?
2.No less tragic was the media’s reaction to the
price decontrol. Even as Cabinet Ministers sought to
distance themselves from it, the editorials mostly reeked
of triumphalism: “Free at Last,” screamed one. “A bold,
welcome move,” shrilled another headline. With rare
exceptions, the edits — in contrast to the response of
millions to Monday’s bandh — showed yet again how far
the mass media are from mass realit
3.Most of the time, as the late Murray Kempton
used to say, the job editorial writers do, is to “come down
from the hills after the battle is over and shoot the
wounded.” The media have done that definition proud.
There’s even been an editorial on Bhopal in the same
month that didn’t wait for that battle to be over. It finds
the villains of Bhopal to be the “activist industry that
continues to milk the tragedy.” And mourns the real
tragedy: that “any corporation, across the world, would
be forced to think twice before proudly announcing to its
shareholders that it has set up an ancillary unit in Bhopal.”
It does not once mention the words “Union Carbide.”
Roll over Kem ton. The shooti ’s on.
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STUDENT 10
Courtesy : - The Hindu
ljdkjh oDrO; cgqr lk/kkj.k gS D;ksfa d ge lHkh Hkw[ks yksxksa
dks Hkkstu eqgS;k djkus dh fLFkfr esa gS vr% ftrus yksxksa dks ge
Hkkstu ns ldrs gSa mrus gh Hkw[ks gksus pkfg,A
1- isVªksy dh dherksa ls ljdkjh fu;a=.k gVkus dk le;
vR;ar nq[kn gSA ;g fu.kZ; ftlds vUrxZr Mhty vkSj rsy dh
dherksa esa tcjnLr c<+ksrjh ftlus djksMk+ s yksxksa dks izHkkfor fd;kA
,sls le; ij vk;k tc eueksgu flag us VksjaVks esa fo’o usrkvksa ds
lkFk laxfBr fodkl c<+us dh vko’;drk dh ckr dhA vktdy
gekjs ;gka [kk| lqj{kk ij gh ppkZ gh gks jgh gS fd bl ij fu;e
cukuk fdruk dkjxj gksxkA ;g lc ml le; ij gqvk tc [kk|
oLrqvksa dh egaxkbZ dh nj 17% ds vkadM+s rd igq¡p xbZ gS vkSj
lkekU; ls egaxkbZ dh nj igys gh nks vkadM+ksa dks Nw pqdh gSA bl
fo’okl esa ge fdls 'kkfey djus dh dksf'k'k dj jgs gS \
2- dherksa ij ls fu;a=.k gVkus ij ehfM;k dks izfrfØ;k Hkh
de nq[kn ugha FkhA ;gka rd fd dsUnzh; eaf=;ksa us Hkh blls vius
dks nwj j[kk] vf/kdka'k lEikndh; fot; Hkko ls cksys ^vUrr% vktkn
gq,*A nwljs us dgk ^ ,d lkgfld] Lokxr ;ksX; dne*A dqN
vioknksa dks NksMd + j vf/kdka'k lEikndksa dk&lkseokj ds can ds izfr
djksM+ksa yksxksa ds :[k dk vkdyu Li"V djrk gS fd ehfM;k
okLrfod fLFkfr ls fdruk nwj gSA
3- tSlk fd LoxhZ; eqjs dSEiVu izk;% dgk djrs Fks fd
lEikndh; fy[kus okyksa dk dke Bhd oSlk gS fd tc ;q) lekIr
gks tk, rks igkM+h ls uhps mrjksa vkSj ?kk;yksa dks xksfy;ksa ls mM+k nksA**
ehfM;k us bl ifjHkk"kk dks xfjekiw.kZ <ax ls fuHkk;kA blh eghus essa
Hkksiky ij Hkh ,d lEikndh; Nik] mUgksua s bl la?k"kZ ds [kRe gksus
dh Hkh izrh{kk ugha dhA mUgksua s Hkksiky ds [kyuk;dksa dks dk;ZdÙkkZvksa
dh baMLVªh djkj fn;k tks yxkrkj =klnh dk nksgu dj jgs gSA
okLrfod =klnh ds ckjs esa os dgrs gSa& iwjs fo'o esa dksbZ Hkh dkiksjZ 's ku
ckj ckj lkspus ij etcwj gksxh fd D;k og Hkksiky ds vius ,uflyjh
;wfuV ds fo"k; esa vius 'ks;j/kkjdksa dks xoZ iw.kZ rjhds ls crk, ;k ughaA
mUgksua s ,d ckj Hkh ^;wfu;u dkckZbM 'kCn dk mi;ksx ugha fd;kA dsEiu
ds v lkj ' fVax xksyh ekjuk tkjh gSA
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4.The early protests against the price rise got short
shrift in the media. In the largest English daily, it earned a
couple of stories spanning a modest few inches across
three or four columns. The same daily twice devoted a
full page — without an ad — on successive days to the
death by suicide of a fashion model in Mumbai. Also,
passing off without much comment this week — the
elevation of our Food and Agriculture Minister to the post
of president of the International Cricket Council. At a
time when the entire nation is focussed on the issue of
food prices and food security.
5.Mr. Pawar is quoted as saying (AFP, New Delhi,
July 2) that he would request the Prime Minister to lessen
his ministerial workload. “I may suggest having more
hands to help me. I had asked for three Ministers but
they have given me only one,” he told journalists. “... If I
request to reduce some of my work, we may find some
solution.” However, he does promise us that “I won’t
allow my work in the government to suffer.” That’s
reassuring. Maybe it’s time for the Prime Minister to
extend inclusive growth to bring the Food and Agriculture
Minister into food and agriculture. (Or we could include
cricket in that sector.) Four Ministers in the same field
would be truly inclusive.
6.Yet the fuel price decontrol will profoundly affect
the prices of just about everything. At a time of already
spiralling food costs. Punctuated by periodic claims that
“it should come down within a couple of months,” from
Ministers and UPA hacks.
7.Now comes the news that the food security bill
may be set for a radical overhaul. I guess that is welcome
— it can’t be worse than the early attempts at drafting
one. Take for instance the meeting of the Empowered
Group of Ministers held in February. They were to “discuss
the enactment of the proposed National Food Security
Bill.” The first thing the EGoM came up with was this
gem. 2.1 (a) “The definition of Food Security should be
limited to the specific issue of foodgrains (wheat and rice)
and be delinked from the larger issue of nutritional
security.”
8.Food security delinked from nutritional security?
Note that the same line concedes nutritional security is
“the lar er issue.” W then the need to delink the two?
http://www.upscportal.com
STUDENT 10
4- c<+rh dherksa dks ysdj gksus okys 'kq:vkrh fojks/kksa dks
ehfM;k us vf/kd egRo ugha fn;kA lcls cM+s vaxt zs h i= us dqN [kcjs
izdkf'kr dh vkSj nks ls rhu dkWyeksa esa dqN bap dk foLrkj nsus dh
nfj;kfnyh fn[kkbZA blh lekpkj i= us izfrfnu nks ckj yxkrkj nks
fnu cEcbZ dh QS'a ku ekWMy dh vkRegR;k dh [kcj dk iwjk i"B fcuk
fdlh foKkiu ds fn;kA bl lIrkg fcuk fdlh fVIi.kh ds&gekjs
[kk| ea=h dks bUVjuS'kuy fØdsV dkmafly ds v/;{k in ij
mUufr dks [kcj Hkh ugha nhA bl le; tcfd iwjk jk"Vª [kk| dherksa
vkSj [kk| lqj{kk dks ysdj fpafrr gSA
5- Jh iokj ds bl dFku dk mYys[k (AFP, New Delhi, July
2) fd;k gS ftlesa os dgrs gS fd os iz/kkuea=h ls vuqjks/k djsx a s fd
muds ea=ky;ksa ds dk;ZHkkj dks de fd;k tk,A os i=dkjksa ls dgrs
gS fd& ^^ esjk lq>ko jgsxk fd eq>s dqN vkSj yksx fn;k tk,aA eSaus
rhu ea=h ekaxs Fks fdUrq eq>s dsoy ,d gh feykA ;fn eSa vius
dk;ZHkkj esa deh ykus dh izkFkZuk d:axk rks laHkor% dqN gy fudysA**
rFkkfi mUgksua s vk'oklu fn;k fd ^^ eSa vius ljdkjh dke dh mis{kk ugha
gksus nwx
a kA** ;g vk'oklu gSA laHkor% ;gh le; gS tc iz/kku ea=h
laxfBr fodkl dh n`f"V ls [kk| ,oa Ñf"k ea=h dks [kk| vkSj Ñf"k {ks=
esa yk ldrs gSA ¼;k fQj ge bl {ks= esa fØdsV dks 'kkfey dj ldrs
gSAa ½ ,d gh {ks= esa pkj eaf=;ksa dk gksuk okLro esa laxfBr fodkl gksxkA
6- m/kj bZa/ku ls ljdkjh fu;a=.k dk [kkRek fuf'pr~ :i
ls izR;sd oLrq dks dher esa cM+h c<+krs jh yk,xkA oSls gh [kk| lkexzh
dh dhers vkleku dks Nw jgh gSA chp&chp esa le;&le; ij ;w-
ih- ,- ljdkj ds ea=h ;g nkok djrs jgrs gS fd ;g egaxkbZ dqN
eghuksa esa de gksus dh mEehn gSA
7- vc ,slh [kcj vk jgh gS fd tYnh gh [kk| lqj{kk fcy
dk rRdky iqujh{k.k gksxkA eq>s yxrk gS ;g Lokxr ;ksX; ckr gS&
vk'kk gS ;g izk:i cukus dh [kjkc dksf'k'k ls cqjk ugha gksxkA
mnkgj.k Lo:i Qjojh esa EGOM dh cSBd dks gh ysaA mUgsa izLrkfor
jk"Vªh; [kk| lqj{kk fcy dks ykxw djus dh ppkZ djuh FkhA fdUrq bl
EGOM us tks igyk dk;Z fd;k og ;g Fkk 2-1 ¼9½ ^^ [kk| lqj{kk dh
ifjHkk"kk ds rgr [kk|kUu ¼xsgaw vkSj pkoy½ ds fo'ks"k eqísa gksus pkfg,
vkSj bUgsa ikSf"Vd lqj{kk tSls o`gn~ eqís ls i`Fkd j[kk tk,A **
8- [kk| lqj{kk dks ikSf"Vd lqj{kk ls i`Fkd djuk\ blh
iafDr esa ;g dgk x;k gS fd ikSf"Vd lqj{kk ,d egRoiw.kZ eqík gSA
fQj nksuksa dks Fkd djus dk vk'k; \
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9.Is 35 kg of rice at Rs. 3 a kilo (for a section of
the population) food security? Are there no other
determinants of food security? Like health, nutrition,
livelihoods, jobs, food prices? Can we even delink the
fuel price hike from discussions on food security? Or from
the wilful gutting of the public distribution system? Or
from the havoc wrought by the ever-growing futures trade
in wheat, pulses, edible oils and more?
10. The truth is the government seeks ways to spend
less and less on the very food security it talks about.
Hunger is defined not by how many people suffer it, but
by how many the government is willing to pay for. Hence
the endless search for a lower BPL figure. To the
government’s great dismay, all three officially-constituted
committees have turned up estimates of poverty higher
than its own. Even the Tendulkar committee, closest to
the ruling elite’s worldview, raises the estimate of rural
poverty to 42 per cent. (On a weak and fragile basis, it is
true. But still higher than the government’s count.)
11. Most dishonest of all is the “there-is-no-money”
line. The country spends Rs. 10,000 crore on a new
airport. There’s Rs. 40,000 crore or more for the
Commonwealth Games. There’s Rs. 60,000 crore happily
lost in the spectrum scam. There’s Rs. 500,000 crore in
write-offs under just three heads for the super-rich and
the corporate sector in the current Union budget. But
funds for the hungry are hard to come by. What would it
cost to universalise the PDS? Pravin Jha and Nilachal
Acharya estimate that if rice/wheat were made available
to all Indians at Rs. 3 a kilo, it would add Rs.84,399 crore
to the food subsidy in coming budgets. That’s about one-
sixth of the tax write-offs for the wealthy in this year’s
budget. (Other estimates place the added expenditure
each year at no more than Rs. 45,000 crore).
12. What will be the costs of not finding the money
— in a country which ranks at 66 among 88 in the Global
Hunger Index? In a nation whose child malnourishment
record is worse than that of sub-Saharan Africa? A country
now ranking 134 in the United Nations Human
Development Index below Bhutan and Laos?
13. The same country that has 49 dollar billionaires
in the Forbes list. (Many of whom receive government
freebies in diverse forms. Some for their IPL
involvements). If a government will not even try to ensure
that no citizen goes hungry, should it remain in power?
Or should it, at the very least, state honestly that the food
security of every Indian is neither its aim nor its intent?
Why tag ‘food security’ to a bill that will legitimise the
opposite? How can we call something a ‘right’ if everyone
does not have it?
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STUDENT 10
9- D;k rhu :i, izfrfdyks dh nj ls 35 fdyks xsgw¡
¼tula[;k ds ,d Hkkx dks½ eqgS;k djkuk [kk| lqj{kk gS \ D;kk [kk|
lqj{kk ds fu.kZk;d vU; eqísa ugh gS\ LokLF;] ikSf"Vdrk] thou;kiu]
ukSdfj;ka] [kk| dherksa vkfn tSl eqís \ D;k ge [kk| lqj{kk ds fo"k;
eas] bZa/ku dh c<+ksrjh dks vyx j[k] ppkZ dj ldrs gS\ D;k tu
forj.k i)fr dks tkucw>dj i`Fkd dj ldrs gS\ ;k fQj Hkfo"; esa
xsgw¡] nkysa] [kk| rsyksa o vU; oLrqvkssa ds c<+rs O;kikj }kjk mRiUu
ijs'kkuh dks vyx dj ldrs gS\
10- lPpkbZ rks ;g gS fd ljdkj ,sls jkLrs [kkst jgh gS
ftlls og ftl [kk| lqj{kk dh ppkZ dj jgh gS ml ij de ls de
O;; djsAHkw[k dh ifjHkk"kk ds rgr ihfM+r yksxksas dks la[;k dh txg
mu yksxksa dh fxurh dh tk jgh gSS ftrus yksxksa dks ljdkj ykHk nsuk
pkgrh gSA ;kfu dh ch-ih-,y ls de vkadM+ksa dh [kkst gSA ljdkj
ds fy, vk'p;Z ,oa fujk'kktud ckr ;g gS fd ljdkjh ij xfBr
rhu lfefr;kssa us xjhch dk vkdyu mlls vf/kd crk;k gS ftruk
ljdkj us vuqeku yxk;k FkkA ;gka rd fd rsanwydj lfefr] tks fd
fo'o dh n`f"V esa lÙkklhu ikVhZ dh pgsrh ekuh tkrh gS mlus Hkh xzkeh.k
{ks= esa xjhch 42% vkadh gSA detksj uktqdrk ds vk/kkj ij bls lp ekuk
tk ldrk gSA fdUrq ;g ljdkjh vkadM+kas dh vis{kk vf/kd gSA
11- blls Hkh xSj bekunkjkuk ckr ;g gS fd iSls dh deh
gSA ;g ns'k 10]000 djksM+ :i, u, gokbZ vÏs ij [kpZ ldrk gSA
jk"VªeaMy [ksyksa ij 40]000 djksM+ ls vf/kdka'k [kpZA LiSDVªe ?kksVkys
esa [kq'kh&[kq'kh 60]00@ :i, dh cckZnhA orZeku dsUnzh; ctV esa
vf/kd /kuh vkSj dkjiksjVs lSDVj esa rhu 'kh"kksaZ ds vUrxZr 500]000@&
djksM+ :i, dh NwVA fdUrq Hkw[ks [kjhcksa ds fy, iSlk tqVkuk dfBu gSA
ih- Mh- ,l- dks leku ;k O;kid cukus esa fdruk [kpZ gksxk\ izoh.k >k
vkSj uhykapy vkpk;Z us vuqeku yxkdj crk;k gS fd ;fn lHkh Hkkjrh;ksa
dks pkoy@xsg¡w rhu :i, izfr fdyks dh nj ls miyC/k djk;k tk,
NwV rks vkxkeh ctV esa dsoy 84]399 djksM+ :i, dh [kk| lgk;rk dk
cks> iM+xs kA ;g ml VSDl dk 1@6 Hkkx gksxk tks lEiUu yksxksa dks bl
ctV esa fn;k x;k gSA ¼vU; vkdyuksa ds vk/kkj ij izfr o"kZ 45]000 djksM+
:i, ls vfËkd dk vfrfjDr [kpZ ugha gksxkA½
12- iwwjs fo'o esa Hkw[ks yksxksa dh lwph esa ls 88 esa ls 66osa
LFkku ij gksus okys bl ns'k esa /ku eqgS;k u djk ikus dh dher D;k
gksxh \ ftl ns'k esa cPpksa ds dqiks"k.k dk fjdkMZ mi&lgkjk vÝhdk
ls Hkh cqjh gSA ;wukbVsM us'ku g~;weu lwph esa ftl ns'k dk LFkku
HkwVku vkSj ykvksl ls Hkh uhps gkss \
13- ftl ns'k esa 49 MkWyj djksM+fr;ksa dks QksclZ lwph esa
uke gksA ¼buesa ls dbZ ljdkj ls reke NwV ikrs gSaA dqN vkbZ-ih-
,y esa 'kkfey gksus dh otg ls ljdkj ds ?k`.kk ik= gSa½ ;fn ljdkj
;g vk'oklu nsus esa gh vlQy jgrh gS fd dksbZ Hkh ukxfjd Hkw[kk
ugha jgsxk] rks D;k bls lÙkk ij cus jgus dk vf/kdkj gS\ D;k mls]
de ls de] iwjh bZekunkjh ls ;g ugha crk nsuk pkfg, fd izR;sd
Hkkjrh; ds fy, [kk| lqj{kk nsuk u rks mldk mís'; gS vkSj u bPNk\
,d ,sls fcy dks ^[kk| lqj{kk* dk uke D;ksa fn;k tk, tks fcYdqy
blds foijhr gks\ ;fn dksbZ pht izR;sd O;fDr rd ugha igqap
ldrh rks ge mls ^gd* dSls dg ldrs gSa \
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14. A disclosure: I was a member of the BPL Expert
Group. In a note annexed to that report, I argued that in
four sectors — food, healthcare, education and decent
work — access had to be universal. That flows from the
Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution.
The rights of our people are based on their being citizens.
Not on their ability to pay. Not on their being BPL or
APL (or even IPL). Rights, by definition, are universal
and indivisible.
15. Will the features of the government’s proposed
food security bill take the Directive Principles forward?
Or will it weaken them? Diluting constitutional rights and
presenting the watered down mix as progressive
legislation is fraud. The only PDS that will work is a
universal one. It is only in those States that have the closest
thing to a universal system — Kerala and Tamil Nadu —
where the PDS has functioned best.
16. Now there’s talk of an “experiment” making
access to food (that is, mainly wheat and rice) “universal”
in about 150 districts. While this might be a step forward
in thinking, it could prove a misstep in practice. This is
“targeting” in other clothes. It could collapse as foodgrain
from districts that are “universal” migrate to districts that
are not. Better to go that final mile. Universalise.
Disclaimer: This article has been translated exclusively for IAS Aspirants convenience and study purposes.
Author doesn't take responsibility of view expressed or accuracy of the content."
http://www.upscportal.com
STUDENT 10
14- ,d [kqyklk& eSa Lo;a ch-ih-,y ¼fcyks iWkoVhZ ykbu½
,DliVZ xzqi dk lnL; gw¡A bldh fjiksVZ ds uksV esa eSaus pkj {ks= ds
eqíksa ij rdZ fd;k] os Fks&Hkkstu] LokLF;] f'k{kk vkSj lEekutud
dk;Z] ftudk lcdks leku vf/kdkj feyuk pkfg,A ;g lc lafo/kku
dh jkT;uhfr ds funs'Z kkRed fizafliYl ds vUrxZr vkrs gSA gekjs ns'k
esa yksxksa dks vf/kdkj feyus dk vk/kkj mudk ukxfjd gksuk gSA vf/kdkj
uds }kjk ewY; pqdk ikus dh {kerk ls fu/kkZfjr ugha gksrAs u gh mudh
ch-ih-,y ;k ,-ih-,y ;k ,-ih-,y ¼;gka rd dh vkbZ-ih-,y½ dks fLFkfr
}kjk fu/kkZfjr gksxa As vf/kdkjksa dks ifjHkk"kk ds vuqlkj os lkoZtfud :i ls
eku gS vkSj fdlh vk/kkj ij ckaVs ugha tk ldrsA
15- D;k Hkkjr ljdkj dk izLrkfor [kk| lqj{kk cy ykbu
bu fn'kk funsZ'kksa dks vkxs c<+k,xk\ ;k fQj mUgsa detksjh djsxk\
oS/kkfud vf/kdkjksa esa ?kkyesy djds mls dkuwuh rjDdh dguk ,d
/kks[kk gSA dsoy ih-Mh-,l ;kfu¼ifCyd fMLVªhC;w'ku flLV~e½ lkoZtfud
forj.k iz.kkyh gh ,dek= lkoZtfud :i ls leku gSA dsjy vkSj
feyukMq esa ;g lcls T;knk dk;Z dj jgh gSA blfy, lcls cf<+;k
flag Hkh gks jgh gSA
16- vc ,d iz;ksx fd, tkus dh ckr gks jgh gS ftlesa
yxHkx 150 ftyksa esa [kk| lkexzh ¼eq[; :i ls xsg¡w vkSj pkoy½ dk
koZtfud forj.k djus dh ;kstuk gSA lkspus esa ;g ,d vkxs c<+us
dk dne ekuk tk ldrk gS fdUrq O;ogkfjd :i ls ;g ,d xyr
dne fl) gks ldrk gSA bls flQZ u;k tkek iguk;k tk jgk gSA
;g Hkj Hkjkdj fxjsxk D;ksfa d lkoZtfud {ks=ksa ls vukt mu ftyksa
ij LFkkukaUrfjr fd;k tk,xk tgka ;g miyC/k ugha gSA csgrj gS
FkkbZ gy [kkstk tk,A lkoZtfud fd;k tk,A
Courtesy : - The Hindu