The much tom-tommed 'food security bill' has got its nod from the President of India in the form of an ordinance. It now needs the ratification of the Parliament within the next six months, failing which, it gets to be persona non grata.
To ensure food for all is indeed a very noble thought. In this country of our's there is a multitude of people who do not have the luxury of having even a single square meal every day. Once the mechanics of the bill come to bear, it's sincerely hoped that the government has plugged all the loopholes to ensure that no Indian ever goes hungry. In fact, the factors that need to be emphasised are:-
(a) an effective distribution system. Identification of vantage points/shelters where the distribution will be
done so as to avoid missing out even a single beneficiary.
(b) proper identification of the beneficiaries and the consequent maintenance of a comprehensive data
bank that's fool proof.
(c) effective and lasting communications with the beneficiaries.
(d) zero tolerance for touts and middlemen. Swift disposal of cases concerning fraud in the system with
the harshest of punishments. Death penalty, perhaps, as such a misdemeanour is akin to grabbing
food from the hapless one's plate who's too feeble to retaliate and hence, heinously wrong.
(e) the smooth flow of resources into the programme to ensure its robust implementation.
(f) quality, in terms of cleanliness and nutritious content, must be ensured at all times.
The costs that are projected to be incurred on account of this programme is estimated to be at a whopping Rs. 125,000 crores.
From past experiences, it's been seen that such welfare schemes are beset with a host of problems resulting in the actual beneficiaries not getting the benefits. And therefore, the cynical me would like to don the role of the Devil's advocate and voice my queries:-
(a) why is it being pushed through in haste? Is it out of political expediency?
(b) do we really have the resources to implement this programme? To have a welfare state rooted in
socialistic ideals sounds good but the wherewithal for its sustenance is a must. (It need not be
reminded that the collapse of the Soviet Union was fundamentally due to contradicting economics
pitted against the harsh market realities at work).
(c) are we unwittingly promoting a 'lazy' population who'd bank on the government for their daily
living and sustenance ever after?
Tailpiece.
1. It's my fond hope that the Parliament debates on the bill so as to encompass meaningful additions and alterations, from all the sections across the political spectrum, to make it a foolproof piece of legislation. And in the process, our country would become a trailblazer in ensuring that not a single citizen of her's goes hungry!
2. And what about the middle class whose contribution to the government's coffers, in the form of taxes, that's gonna bear the brunt of the outlay for the programme?
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