Committee convener Kavita Srivastava said, ''We demand a much broader based Food Entitlements Act.''
Stating that in the face of spiralling prices, drought and deepening hunger, the effort to entitle each BPL household to a monthly ration of 25 kg of foodgrains at Rs 3 per kg was meaningless, Ms Srivastava said, ''The Act should deal with at least some of the causes of hunger and provide each and every resident of this country with food entitlements.''
Amid the ruckus created by the unverifiable statistics providing different figures for the number of people living below poverty line, economist Jean Dreze emphasised, ''For achieving long-term food security for all, a comprehensive approach including a universal public distribution system is needed so that no one is left behind in contrast with the current targeted approach which is both unreliable and divisive.''
Stating that majority of poor people did not have BPL cards, he said giving subsidised food to some people who did not need it was better rather than leaving needy poor people without food.
National Federation of Women (NFW) general secretary Annie Raja opined that no private player should be allowed in Public Distribution System (PDS).
''The law should allow accessiblity, both economic and social and availability of food to each and every resident of this country,'' Ms Raja said.
''To ensure availabilty of food, the Government should not turn to imports. It should make arrangements to improve food production and Genetically Modified food is a big no-no,'' she opined.
She added that profitable supportive price for farmers' produce should be given along with limiting imports to emergency periods only to boost their confidence.
Pressing for the provision of ration cards to the female head of the house, Ms Raja said it would help in improving the health of the child as well as women.
Rubbishing the Government's reiteration about the unavailability of funds to launch a huge project of ensuring food to all citizens, National Trade Union Initiative vice-president D Tahnkappan said, ''We are of the mind that if there is a political will then funds will not be a problem.'' He questioned the Government on its lax attitude in food provision at a time when it was providing a tax rebate of Rs 4 lakh crore to industries.
Emphasising that food should not be exported till malnutrition was eradicated, National Conference of Dalit Organisation's (NACDOR) national coordinator Ashok Bharti said the residents of the country had the first right on the food produced here.
The National Steering Committee also demanded a greivance redressal mechanism to deal with the complaints and check misappropriations.
They also advocated total overhaul of the PDS.
National Federation of Women (NFW) general secretary Annie Raja opined that no private player should be allowed in Public Distribution System (PDS).
''The law should allow accessiblity, both economic and social and availability of food to each and every resident of this country,'' Ms Raja said.
''To ensure availabilty of food, the Government should not turn to imports. It should make arrangements to improve food production and Genetically Modified food is a big no-no,'' she opined.
She added that profitable supportive price for farmers' produce should be given along with limiting imports to emergency periods only to boost their confidence.
Pressing for the provision of ration cards to the female head of the house, Ms Raja said it would help in improving the health of the child as well as women.
Rubbishing the Government's reiteration about the unavailability of funds to launch a huge project of ensuring food to all citizens, National Trade Union Initiative vice-president D Tahnkappan said, ''We are of the mind that if there is a political will then funds will not be a problem.'' He questioned the Government on its lax attitude in food provision at a time when it was providing a tax rebate of Rs 4 lakh crore to industries.
Emphasising that food should not be exported till malnutrition was eradicated, National Conference of Dalit Organisation's (NACDOR) national coordinator Ashok Bharti said the residents of the country had the first right on the food produced here.
The National Steering Committee also demanded a greivance redressal mechanism to deal with the complaints and check misappropriations.
They also advocated total overhaul of the PDS.
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