Food Security Bill- A farce..Food4Vote

Food Security Bill, popularly known as FSB, has been passed in Lok Sabha and most of the political parties, of course with demand for various amendments, eventually supported it. We all know, that Congress is viewing it as a Game Changer, to camouflage, their deteriorating performance in UPA-2. Otherwise, why did it choose such a timing when the elections of 2014 are just round the corner? Food Security for people under BPL, was promised in UPAs manifesto, way back in mid 2009.. Were they waiting for poor people’s patience and problems to increase extremely high, hence they would immediately succumb to this plot of cheap food and eventually vote for food.

In BJP ideology,

Antyodaya-that is providing for the person belonging to the lowest starta of society, residing in the remotest corner, is it’s basic philosophy.. A part of its Panch nishtha..

Hence, the idea of Food Security is not at all novel for BJP and BJP run states, where large section of the society, is under BPL, such schemes have been successfully operative, since years. In fact, Hon. CM of Chattisgarh, Shri Raman Singh, is popularly known as “Chawal wale Baba” by the people of his state..

But,

 many loopholes in the bill that UPA has created.

First and foremost, the planning commission has charted out new dimensions for BPL. Any person earning Rs. 28 a day in rural areas and Rs. 33 in urban area falls under BPL. People earning little more than this DO NOT come under BPL!!! [Meaning, all those earning about Rs. 40 to 50, will not be liable to gain benefits from this scheme!!!] This has created a new Lower Income group, as rocketing price rise of basic food would not be affordable to the people earning little above BPL.

Secondly, with this new definition, GOI claims that they have brought down the poverty from 37% during 2004-05 to 21% in 2011.

But, in reality, they may have mathematically brought down Poverty, but have increased Poor.

Poor, who are bearing the brunt of steep price rise but are unable to get solace in form of Food Security from the Govt.!!!

Thirdly, This new bill is going to impose large burden on the economy. With failing rupee, sensex dipping low, Gold increasing, basic food prices sky-rocketing, the economy is already in doldrums. Does the Govt. have any action plan to procure the huge sum necessary to fulfill the commitment of this bill.. If, the back breaking load is put on tax-payers back, he would surely stumble, creating yet another poor class.

Fourthly, Colossal quantum of grains that would require to be sold at throw away price, will have to be grown and sold by farmer. Will the farmer be able to afford this lumber on its shoulder??? Possibility is, farmers may sell their land and stop farming or they may fall in the group that requires Food Security!!!

BJP demanded answers and Amendments regarding these basic nitty-gritty, but of course, UPA refused to oblige. Being only 116 members in LokSabha, BJP had no other alternative to prevent it from passing.  Many argue, that BJP should have opposed the bill.

But,

The truth is, BJP does not oppose the food for the poorest as Antyodaya is its soul. At the same time, BJP did raise demand for Amendments for its execution  but for UPA it is not Food for all, but it is Food for Vote..