The Proposed National Food Security Bill 2013: an open review

The 2014 general loksabha election poll is creating the maximum buzz at the moment and that is why the Indian Government law makers are not prudent enough to see what is going to happen after 2014. Our aim here is to talk a bit about the recently proposed National Food Security Bill 2013 in an open review manner and analyze its advantages, benefits, demerits, drawbacks or disadvantages so that people can understand this Government campaign/scheme/policy against starvation and hunger better.

	Food is one of the three basic necessities of life and we have been watching how the UPA government has been struggling over the past few years to successfully pass a food security bill for the hungry and needy people. The National Food Security bill has been rotating from one table to another for the last 3 or 4 years, from one ministry to another; but never got a real shape. But now since the election polls 2014 are very near, UPA-2 government wants to use this opportunity as a weapon for pulling peoples’ attraction and of course their votes. With this hope of winning the upcoming elections and resuming its term as UPA-3, the Government has recently passed the proposed food security bill for the hungry people of India. But is this National Food Security bill good enough to defy starvation, malnutrition and hunger of the poor Indian people?  Can this food security bill lift and improve India’s ranking in the World Starvation Index? Complete details of the proposed National Food Security Bill 2013 So, what are the actual content details/statements passed in the National Food Security Bill 2013? Here is what this bill offers/provides to the hungry people of India: 1.       5 Kg rice @ Rs. 3/- 2.       5 Kg wheat @ Rs. 2/- 3.       5 Kg. coarse grains/cereals @ Rs. 1/- 4.       The Government believes that the 67% of India’s population will take advantage of this bill out of which 75% rural and 50% urban expected. 5.       The Government has initially invested INR 1.31 crores and subsequently issued a provision of revising the cost of subsidized food grains once in every three years. 6.       The mid day meal schemes and other nutritional practices have been reduced to a fair extent and emphasis on refining agriculture and cultivation for production of purer foods has been given. 7.       The bill raises good hopes for many but still we should not forget that from 2004 to 2009, 1crore 45 lacs farmers had left their farming and cultivation and 50 lacs daily laborers had left their jobs in construction and real estate sectors. 8.       Since the success of this bill is not guaranteed and the number of hungry people will grow by the course of time, we cannot be sure of fulfillment of goals of this food security bill. The government has to ensure all the substitutive measures for the food security of the common people. For small instance, providing jobs and employment opportunities to all which means that each and every person will have enough money in hand to buy those subsidies. 9.       India is a country where many people belonging to the beggar class and penniless are found. Hence what value of the national food security bill is there unless people get financial power to buy these cheap subsidies for their family and run their living smoothly? 10.   The government has to do lot more if at all this food security bill is aimed at being a successful campaign against starvation and hunger. Otherwise, removing starvation will be impossible for sure. Why starvation despite ample production of food grains? India is known all over the world for producing super fine quality rice, pulses, wheat and other cereals in huge quantity every year. Then why the Indian people starve so much? It is because the produced goods are distributed uniformly to all. There are many black activities involved in the process which means corruption rules over all. One part of India sleeps without food and another part throws plates of biryanis, dhoklas, idlis, paneer tikkas into the dustbin?! Shame on this noble conscience?! So, to eradicate the hunger and starvation forever, people have also a role to play – being kind in donating foods and careful in not wasting extra amount of foods. Eat only that much which you can. Then, the next part of responsibility is upto the government authorities to scrutinize the population, statistics details of all parts of the country and make budget accordingly to meet everyone’s needs. That will definitely help improve India’s ranking in the World Hunger Index too. Advantages and disadvantages of the National Food security Bill 2013 Well, The bill has certainly made clear hopes of revitalizing food security of India and we will definitely see some kind changes very soon. We can’t cry immediately without any reason and the government is also not that fool to make its citizens fool and suffer more. Hence, the people belonging to hungry and poor needy class will surely be benefited to great extent set apart how successful the campaign goes. The main drawback or demerit of this food security bill is that it has less backup plans and measures. The government has to think out many if onlys, what ifs, what thens etc. to be doubtless regarding the 100% success of this revolution against starvation. Safety tips for the National Food Security Bill 2013 So, what can be done quickly and immediately to ensure all safety and success to the Food security bill 2013? Here are some good alternatives: 1.       The government should rope in some of the top ranked Self Help Groups or Swayam Sahayika Groups (SHG) to prepare the refining and purifying of raw food grains. 2.       Several top ranked NGOs can be contracted for training people on proper usage of foods, better amount of production of grains, improving the standard of agriculture and rural cultivation etc. 3.       Government can open several schools for training high grade farmers for quick and urgent time productions. All modern agricultural tools and apparels should be provided depending upon the quality of the cultivator. 4.       The government can create several scrutinizing committees/channels to enable successful and uniform distribution of those food grains. Quick comment I don’t see enough causes or hopes of success of the National Food Security Bill 2013 at the present stage. All reasons and substitute plans are discussed above in detail.