FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE is being touted by congress & the paid media as a game changer for congress as it provides food for 80 crore indians living below poverty line.It is being referred to as a congress masterstroke in the run up to the general elections,and that even the opposition parties would not block it as it would be largely perceived as going against the interests of the poor & needy.
The truth is that it is the hype & propaganda created by congress & the paid media flourishing on congress black/scam money! congress political interests are being projected as the mood of the nation & a dire need for poverty stricken indians by the media desperately trying to influence popular opinion at the behest of the congress.
Now the question arises as to what was the govt doing for the last 10 yrs &what was the need to introduce this now?Fingers are also being pointed at the desperate speed at which an ordinance route was taken -does the govt not have faith in the opposition's conscience & the legislatures that food security as a bill could be passed there? The reality is as shocking & despicable as the congress itself.The reality is that the bill was tailored to suit the congress long term interests & it feared that opposition would demand discussion thereby exposing the unholy motive of the congress & amendments made would amount to sharing the credit for the bill with the opposition which the govt was not ready to.
Anyway first of all let us consider & analyze the reason for opposition to FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE as being brought up by the govt in a step by step manner:
1.The ordinance outlines the provision of food for 80 crore indians living below the poverty line but excludes certain classes.Those not among the beneficiaries are people earning Rs 33/day!Will somebody tell me the rationale behind this conclusion?Does the govt look upon them as the 'nouveau riche' of the indian society?Seems to be no doubt about it as from congress leaders quoting Rs 12 & Rs 5 as a requirement for a wholesome diet in mumbai & delhi respectively!
2.The FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE is a poorly designed package.Only aim of feeding 80 crore people is not enough.There should also be provisions for step by step implementation of procurement to distribution chain & finally express steps should be laid out to ensure that good quality of grains is provided to the needy.The main cause of concern is that there are no clear guidelines laid out as to quality standards of the grain purchased,way of purchasing eg. through tenders,or chosen partners,eligibility of supplier,eligibility of purchaser,modes of payments,motives of buyers & purchasers eg. profit motive may lead to purchase of bad quality of food grains at cheaper price in large quantities while pocketing rest of the allocated money,&,pvt corps are touted to be trusted for distribution which may ensure the making of a huge distribution scam as corps are not here for charity.There are real chances of blackmarketing & food of whatever quality may never reach the needy.
3.Such schemes have been successfully carried out in BJP run states of CHATTISGARH & GUJRAT where 35 kg of grains are provided to those below poverty line (BPL) under the PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (PDS) @ Re 1/kg whereas the FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE (FSO) has provisions for only 25 kg of grain for the BPL catagory @ Re 1/kg! That's 10 kg loss to those coming under the BPL catagory as compared to the PDS in the BJP run states!
4. It is being introduced at a time of grave economic crisis furthur compounded by inflation which directly impacts price rise.There has been spiralling price rise of essential commodities almost on a routine basis latest example being onions.It will be a huge burden on an already drained economy due to its sheer magnitude!
5.Populist measures have been notorious for being the progenitors of corruptions & huge scams.They have hardly reached the beneficiaries as almost everything is pocketed by middlemen & only leftovers reach the needy.
6.Last but not the least,it is being presented more for propaganda than intention by a party which has let down the country & people by failing on almost all fronts be it economy,foreign affairs,defence affairs,or providing a clean,wefare,&,development oriented govt.It is on the latter front where the govt is found wanting as it has presided over rampant corruption & multiple scams each bigger in magnitude than the other.Thus food security is just an election plank for an issueless party which has provided the most corrupt govt in the history of independent or British ruled INDIA.
Thus,it is very sad to conclude that intensions of the govt do not match their rhetoric.The saddest part is that the govt is selling a dream to the masses which it never intends to fulfill just for cheap electoral gains.SHAME ON SUCH GOVT FOR TAKING THE POVERTY STRICKEN FOR A RIDE! LET US ENSURE THAT IS THEIR FINAL JOURNEY TO POWER! JAI HIND!
The truth is that it is the hype & propaganda created by congress & the paid media flourishing on congress black/scam money! congress political interests are being projected as the mood of the nation & a dire need for poverty stricken indians by the media desperately trying to influence popular opinion at the behest of the congress.
Now the question arises as to what was the govt doing for the last 10 yrs &what was the need to introduce this now?Fingers are also being pointed at the desperate speed at which an ordinance route was taken -does the govt not have faith in the opposition's conscience & the legislatures that food security as a bill could be passed there? The reality is as shocking & despicable as the congress itself.The reality is that the bill was tailored to suit the congress long term interests & it feared that opposition would demand discussion thereby exposing the unholy motive of the congress & amendments made would amount to sharing the credit for the bill with the opposition which the govt was not ready to.
Anyway first of all let us consider & analyze the reason for opposition to FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE as being brought up by the govt in a step by step manner:
1.The ordinance outlines the provision of food for 80 crore indians living below the poverty line but excludes certain classes.Those not among the beneficiaries are people earning Rs 33/day!Will somebody tell me the rationale behind this conclusion?Does the govt look upon them as the 'nouveau riche' of the indian society?Seems to be no doubt about it as from congress leaders quoting Rs 12 & Rs 5 as a requirement for a wholesome diet in mumbai & delhi respectively!
2.The FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE is a poorly designed package.Only aim of feeding 80 crore people is not enough.There should also be provisions for step by step implementation of procurement to distribution chain & finally express steps should be laid out to ensure that good quality of grains is provided to the needy.The main cause of concern is that there are no clear guidelines laid out as to quality standards of the grain purchased,way of purchasing eg. through tenders,or chosen partners,eligibility of supplier,eligibility of purchaser,modes of payments,motives of buyers & purchasers eg. profit motive may lead to purchase of bad quality of food grains at cheaper price in large quantities while pocketing rest of the allocated money,&,pvt corps are touted to be trusted for distribution which may ensure the making of a huge distribution scam as corps are not here for charity.There are real chances of blackmarketing & food of whatever quality may never reach the needy.
3.Such schemes have been successfully carried out in BJP run states of CHATTISGARH & GUJRAT where 35 kg of grains are provided to those below poverty line (BPL) under the PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (PDS) @ Re 1/kg whereas the FOOD SECURITY ORDINANCE (FSO) has provisions for only 25 kg of grain for the BPL catagory @ Re 1/kg! That's 10 kg loss to those coming under the BPL catagory as compared to the PDS in the BJP run states!
4. It is being introduced at a time of grave economic crisis furthur compounded by inflation which directly impacts price rise.There has been spiralling price rise of essential commodities almost on a routine basis latest example being onions.It will be a huge burden on an already drained economy due to its sheer magnitude!
5.Populist measures have been notorious for being the progenitors of corruptions & huge scams.They have hardly reached the beneficiaries as almost everything is pocketed by middlemen & only leftovers reach the needy.
6.Last but not the least,it is being presented more for propaganda than intention by a party which has let down the country & people by failing on almost all fronts be it economy,foreign affairs,defence affairs,or providing a clean,wefare,&,development oriented govt.It is on the latter front where the govt is found wanting as it has presided over rampant corruption & multiple scams each bigger in magnitude than the other.Thus food security is just an election plank for an issueless party which has provided the most corrupt govt in the history of independent or British ruled INDIA.
Thus,it is very sad to conclude that intensions of the govt do not match their rhetoric.The saddest part is that the govt is selling a dream to the masses which it never intends to fulfill just for cheap electoral gains.SHAME ON SUCH GOVT FOR TAKING THE POVERTY STRICKEN FOR A RIDE! LET US ENSURE THAT IS THEIR FINAL JOURNEY TO POWER! JAI HIND!
Amit indeed a good article. My only thought is indian ppl need every other benefits except FSB. It is burden on ppl who will benefit from it. I think all of us shud stand together to veto all such nonsensical bills which directly benefits the ruling party. Jai hind @Vijaytiwari1611
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