*RIGHT TO FOOD CAMPAIGN* N. Delhi,
15th July, 2010 *PRESS RELEASE* * * *CAMPAIGN'S RESPONSE TO THE NAC PRESS RELEASE * *REGARDING ITS DECISIONS RELATING TO THE * *NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT* The Right to Food Campaign welcomes the NAC decision of accepting the *principle of universalizing Public Distribution System* for the country. Similarly, it welcomes the measures that are being thought out for the vulnerable. However, the press release issued by the NAC leaves room for a lot of questions. We are raising those questions in our press release and *we hope that the NAC will take these issues into consideration while formulating its final position. * The Issues are as follows: *1. NO time frame given for the Time Bound Universalisation promised* The press release talks of time bound Universalisation, however, it does not mention the time frame. Unless the time period is not spelt out the commitment to fully universalise seems wishwashy. *We demand that the time period being thought out be made explicit. * * * *2. Ambiguity about Entitlements of those areas which will not be universalised in the initial phase* * * - Regarding what will happen to the rest of the country when selected parts (Districts or Blocks) will be Universalised? . The Campaign would like to know whether the "socially vulnerable" would replace the BPL or it would be in addition to the BPL along with the inclusion of all SCs&STs who will get the present entitlement of 35 kgs. If this is the case then it is a positive step otherwise it would take away what exists for the people today. - The cost of grain for the "other" category has not been mentioned which is dangerous as there could be a much higher cost imposed on them. - This would then convert the exercise of Universalisation into a farcical exercise. *3. "Individual" Entitlements demanded for PDS/ * - The campaign is of the opinion that the grain entitlement ought to be an individual entitlement rather than a household entitlement. So it would like to ask the basis on which 35 kgs of grain is being fixed per household. The ICMR norm require that an individual be provided 14 kgs of cereal, 1.5 kgs of dal and 800gms of oil for an average moderately hardworking adult to survive and half of this for a child. Thus this capping of 35 kg is not acceptable to us. 35kgs grain does not suffice even for a week for an average family. * * *Not mentioning Dal and oil shows no commitment towards nutritional security. * * * - The complete silence on the issue of pulses and oil in the press release makes us assume that food security is only being looked upon as cereal security and not as nutrition security. This again shows that the issue of food security will only be a populist tool and not really give relief to the millions of malnourished children and anaemic people. with dal having disappeared. *Urban PDS: A nonexistent report being made the basis of selection of the poor. * Who will be the Urban beneficiaries is very vague. The Hashim committee of the planning commission has still not given its report and its criteria has been accepted by the NAC.But the Hashim Committee has given earlier recommendations on urban poverty alleviation in the 9th Plan that the eligibility criteria consist of those below the urban poverty line, >30% women, SC/ST in proportion to their presence in the local population, 3% disabled, and other non-economic parameters that are not defined. We feel that the NAC, by not examining the flawed basis of the Hashim Committee’s recommendations, has not been serious on this issue and is almost taking the urban poor for a ride. * **Antyodaya Grain : *No mention of the AAY category shows a reversal of the SC Order. We demand that this category remain and they be given food grain along with dal and pulses for Re 1 per family as being given by Chhattisgarh State. *RIGHTS OF CHILDREN NOT BEEN SPELT OUT* "Issues related to the Children's Right to Food have not been addressed in the current proposal. Far more than a provision for cereals is required to meet the nutritional needs of breastfeeding infants and children. Thus schemes such as the ICDS, maternity entitlements, creches, MDMS etc. need to be strengthened through the NFSA. The NFSA, to us, represents an unique opportunity for fundamental reform to achieve comprehensive nutritional care for all children". * * *No road map given regarding increase in production, Universal procurement (from all over the country) and that of Dal and millets and storage and fiscal commitments.* The model of phased Universalisation would be convincing if the NAC had put across the road map in terms of time frame and fiscal costs regarding the increase in grain production, procurement, storage and distribution.. The NAC should have laid a framework for Universal procurement and decentralised and expanded storage facilities along with the inclusion of nutritious and much neglected millets in the food basket, in addition to dal and oil. There has been no mention of banning of Exports of food which is regularly sold out of the country despite domestic needs not being met. Similarly the availability of water per person for survival has altogether been glossed over. Nor has there been any acknowledgement of the Right to Food Campaign’s specific analysis of the need to do away with the huge subsidies being offered to corporations (as income foregone) at the cost of the health and nutrition of the people. *We strongly urge the NAC to reconsider these issues while formulating its final position. * * * The right to food campaign is of the opinion that even 63 years after independence, *Food Security for ALL *is the least that the Government should ensure to the *People of the Country* and whether it is the NAC or any other platform it should come clean on this issue. *The campaign will mobilise people from all over the country in order to ensure that a comprehensive food security act is brought into the Parliament. A nationwide call will be given towards this from the national convention being held in Rourkela, Orissa from the 6,7, 8 August, 2010. * * * * *On behalf of the steering group of the Right to Food Campaign: We are, Annie Raja *(National Federation for Indian Women),* Anuradha Talwar and Madhuri *(New Trade Union Initiative),* Arun Gupta& Radha Holla (*Breast Feeding Promotion Network of India),*Arundhati Dhuru and Sandeep Pandey *(National Alliance of People’s Movement),* Ashok Bharti*(National Conference of Dalit Organizations),* Anjali Bhardwaj, Nikhil Dey *(National Campaign for People’s Right to Information)*, Asha Mishra and Vinod Raina (*Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti),* Colin Gonsalves *(Human Rights Law Network),** *Kavita Srivastava (*People’s Union for Civil Liberties)*, Mira Shiva and Vandana Prasad *(Jan Swasthya Abhiyan)*, Paul Diwakar* **(National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights),* Subhash Bhatnagar* **(National Campaign Committee for Unorganized Sector workers)*, V.B.Rawat (Social Development Foundation) Secretariat - Right to Food Campaign C/o PHRN 5 A, Jungi House, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi 110049. India Website: www.righttofoodindia.org Email: [email protected] Phone - 91 -11 -2649 9563 www.righttofoodindia.org * * -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
