[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ore than political sovereignty or even financial security, it is food security that is most vital to any creature including human beings. For without a fully satisfied belly of what use is all the inspirations that the great philosophies of the world imply?
No matter whatever the heritage of India as recorded in its colourful and myriad history, like any other species, the survival of human beings is first and foremost, access to food resources. In this context, the proposed Food Security to be passed in Parliament is of utmost significance cutting across political divides.In fact, some States including Delhi plan on its rollout from today (Tuesday), the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The Congress appears determined on the passage of landmark food bill soon after making an obituary reference to sitting member Dilip Singh Judeo of the BJP. But the agitating Telegu Desam Party (TDP) MPs in the shadow of proposed Telengana State have no plans to give up their protest in the Well of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The UPA Government will try to skim over objections through talks.
On the other hand, with hardly any work done in the last two sessions, Government has come up with an ambitious legislative agenda in this session including bills aimed at economic reforms to give a boost to the sluggish economy. Government’s patience is apparently running out. Opposition Leader, Sushma Swaraj, has insisted that the all-party meet convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kamal Nath, last week was of the view that that no bills should be passed.
The monsoon session of Parliament is expected to conclude on August 30 but there are indications that it may be extended by a few more days in view of the heavy agenda. Congress is worried that any action against the agitating TDP MPs would send a wrong signal in the Seemandhara region.
In addition the BJP is probably going to raise questions on the coalgate issue in a big way. It has been emboldened by reports that not only files and records of applications for 45 coal blocks fro 1998 to 2005 are untraceable but also recommendations made for some coal blocks. The BJP had demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on this issue in the budget session earlier this year.
All said and done, however, it is the Food Bill that is of utmost concern to people as a whole whether rich or poor. No country in the world has ever even initiated such a proposal. Who cares what political party is in power but their first concern is how to be reasonably well–fed. Even animals have the same desire and concern. For without adequate food who can survive for long? It is the tragedy of this “largest democracy” on earth that the Government has to be much concerned about proving adequate food for its citizens.
Perhaps it should also take necessary adequate measures to ensure that the godowns need not be kept as museum pieces but that they could be emptied for the benefit of the masses and then be filled up with later harvests and thus pre-empt the specter of thousands of suicides by farmers.
In this context, not only the BJP but all other political parties should join hands and stand shoulder to shoulder to overcome food scarcity not because of less production but because of poor and perhaps negligent and lackadaisical attitude of the powers that be and their acolytes.
