Passing a Bill in Parliament cannot "eradicate" National Hunger

 

"The food bill is meant for the less fortunate sections of our society. It is a historic step to eradicate hunger. It is  time to send out a big message that India can take the responsibility of ensuring food security for all its citizens."

These were the words of Sonia Gandhi in the parliament yesterday when the voting took place to pass the Food Security Bill. Though, it's not unusual for our politicians to pat their own backs and make mammoth announcements (which later disappears like mammoths did), projecting a bill to be able to eradicate hunger from India is a statement exaggerated to it's limits.

Mrs. Gandhi also has the answer, "Questions were raised whether we have the means to implement this programme. It is not a questions of whether we have the means. We have to create the means," she said. Very well. It's good to be positive, but how are we, the people of India, expected to forget the track record of this Government so easily? Yes, we have a short memory, but that doesn't gives them the right to underestimate it. And why is it happening that all the big decisions are taken in the last year of the UPA-2? That too, by running the parliament as late as 10.30pm in the night! Wow, that's dedication, we wanted to see since long. It would have been much better for the country if this was done keeping the Nation in the mind and not just the almighty elections.

Image Credit: ThaiRath

It seems that the ruling party is singing the song for the 2014 elections, "mera to jo bhi kadam hai, wo teri raah mein hai..." which means 'every step I take is by keeping you in mind'. It's a pity for the nation that we have patriots of chairs who claims to be the patriots of the country.

As far as Food Security Bill is concerned, it is a decision taken in haste. More to prove a point than to actually benefit the poor. With the loopholes like "cash for food" provision still persistent in the bill (amendment to change it was negated), it cannot be seemingly assured that the Government has learned anything from the big scams taken place in the country and the corruption which is well established in such schemes. The questions is, whether they really want to learn?

Just passing the bill in the parliament is not enough. The commitment which the government is shown (for whatever reasons) to pass the bill in present Lok Sabha session is commendable but greater commitment has to be shown in order to implement this bill properly. The priority should be to ensure that 'real poor get real food'. The Nation is watching.

It's up to us now, whether we want to fall for the last minute gimmicks of the ruling party or will we take into consideration their 10 years report card before going to the polls? Hope, better sense will prevail.