CPI-M denounces Food Security Bill
December 16th, 2011 - 5:57 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Dec 16 (IANS) The CPI-M Friday dubbed the upcoming Food Security Bill “a travesty of food security”, and demanded the “universal” supply of at least 35 kg of foodgrains at Rs.2 a kilo.
It said the current version of the bill not only keeps the “flawed” categories of APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line), but links rights of general sections to so-called reforms in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
“These reforms, which have now been brought in as a separate chapter in the bill, include highly contested policy measures such as cash transfers instead of foodgrains, food coupons and even the use of ‘Aadhaar’.”
The Communist Party of India-Marxist “strongly objects to these new provisions which will reduce the entire bill into a platform to push through neo-liberal reforms with legal sanction”, leading to further exclusions.
“In a blatant violation of federal norms, the central government reserves the right to notify the date of the PDS reforms which will be mandatory for all state governments…
“It appears that the central government wants to utilize the widespread demand for a strong Food Security Bill to push through narrow agendas of those agri-businesses and corporates who want dismantling of PDS and a truncated Food Security Bill.”
- Tripura opposes food security bill - Oct 18, 2011
- 'Food security bill before cabinet soon' - Jul 21, 2011
- Food security bill to be tabled in monsoon session - Jul 26, 2011
- Centre, states to discuss food bill (Lead) - Feb 06, 2012
- Poor want reformed PDS, not cash transfers - Aug 11, 2011
- Government reviews food security bill - Feb 29, 2012
- Give surplus foodgrain free to poor: Apex court (Lead) - Aug 12, 2010
- Will delay in poverty survey affect food security bill? - Apr 10, 2012
- Landmark food security bill tabled in parliament (Lead) - Dec 22, 2011
- Finance minister says losing sleep over rising subsidy bills - Feb 08, 2012
- CPI cautions government against 'discriminatory' Food Security Act - Dec 28, 2009
- Parliamentary panel on food bill to meet Jan 23 - Jan 18, 2012
- Right to Food campaign demands universal PDS - Nov 01, 2011
- Can't follow tips on foodgrain storage, Supreme Court told (Lead) - Sep 06, 2010
- Jayalalithaa opposes food security bill - Dec 20, 2011
Tags: blatant violation, bpl, cash transfers, central government, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, food coupons, food security, foodgrains, government reserves, legal sanction, liberal reforms, narrow agendas, policy measures, poverty line, public distribution system, rs 2, security bill, state governments, universal supply