Food Security Bill will be dream come true for poor

Meanwhile, the ‘aam aadmi’ of the country is having his eyes set on the most awaited ‘Food Security Bill’ which would definitely instrumental in eradicating malnutrition among the derelicts striving to appease their hollow stomach by having food once in two days, BJP’s facade Narendra Modi vaguely asserts that the proposed  bill would further deteriorate the condition of the poor. With around 22 percent of the country’s population undernourished, The Food Security Bill is indeed a watershed legislation which when implemented would be boon for these destitutes who crave for a morsel of food to feed themselves. Though the bill is being tagged by the opposition as Congress’ strategy to woo people for its vote bank ahead of 2014 elections, it is definitely being yearned by the lakhs of poor who starve even for a square of meal a day.

As per government’s present scheme, Antyodaya Anna Yojana, each household below poverty line is entitled to 25 kilograms of food grains per month at subsidised rates of Rs.2 per kilogram for wheat and Rs. 3 per kilogram for rice. This scheme however quiet successful among the smaller households, proved to be in vain for the larger families having six to seven or more members –a common phenomenon in rural areas consequent upon the continued tradition of living in joint families- as the total amount of grain dispensed as per the scheme could not be exceeded beyond 25 kilograms. Now with the new proposed bill, irrespective of the household strength, each member of the family would be entitled to five kilograms grains per month at the highly subsidised prices.

Besides, the bill also ensures food grains free of charge to the children aged between six months to six years to be procured through the local ‘anganwadi’ or child care and development centre set up under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme of Central Government.  In addition, the impending National Food Security Act, 2013 would surely prove to the benefactor for the poorest of the poor, allowing each household covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana introduced by the Central Government on December 25, 2000 to procure thirty five kilograms of food grain per month at the highly subsidised prices fixed by the government.

 Furthermore, the National Food Security Bill, would also identify women as the head of the household for issuing of the ration cards, paving their way towards empowerment in the family. It’s indeed a bestowal also for thousands of pregnant women who are deprived of basic food grains sine quo non the nutrients indispensable during the state of pregnancy and lactation as per the nutritional standards described in the Schedule II of the bill, which would ensure them food grains free of charge during pregnancy and for first six months after the child’s birth. A maternity allowance of not less than rupees six thousand would also be rendered to the pregnant women in instalments. At its initial level, the bill would be reaching to about seventy five percent of rural and fifty percent of urban population.

The Food Security Bill proposed by the National Advisory Council is the outcome after the frisk deliberation and study of the various dietetics aficionados and experts upon which BJP’s Caesar is critiquing with the very notion of opposing the bill. The Schedule II of the proposed Food Security Bill conspicuously describes the set nutritional standards for every person of the rural and urban household as per RDA or Recommended Dietary Allowance for an individual and still Modi’s persistent opposing the ‘boon for the gloom’ bill is quite symptomatic of his obsession for the apex seat. No doubts, the bill would prove be a game changer in the imminent Lok Sabha elections of 2014, still the bill would be a reverie come true for the lakhs of poorest of the poor who sleep empty stomached in the arms of the nightmares of malnutrition and starvation. Perhaps it’s the fear of losing his clout and glam to Congress among the people of the country ahead of the elections that’s looming large over Mr. Modi, compelling him and BJP to oppose and stall the bill.

Well, amidst the vehement politics looming over the bill, Modi’s worry regarding the insecurity of his morsels of votes is quite evident from his persistent agitation against the bill.

(The writer is a journalist and a graduation student at IHM, Pusa, New Delhi.)