Right of people to food security discussed
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, October 03 2013:
A one-day State Level Consultation Programme on 'People's Right to Food Security in Manipur' was held at Manipur Press Club here today.
Jointly organized by the Human Rights Initiative (HRI) and International NGO Partnership Agreement Programme (IPAP), the programme was attended by Aribam Brajakumar Sharma, President of Manipur Cultural Integration Conference and Dr..R.KRanjan Singh, Chairman of Human Rights Initiative as the moderator and functional president respectively.
Resource persons of the programme included social scientist Dr.Dhanabir Laishram, President of United Committee, Manipur (UCM) Y.Nabachandra and Officer on Special Duty, CAF/PD RK Binoy.
Speaking on the topic "National Food Security Act, 2013 and its feature in Manipur", Dr.Dhanabir said that even though the Act encloses good terms and conditions, it will be hard to implement in the country.
If properly implemented in the country within 3 years, India could be listed in the Guiness Book of World Records.
He further questions the government why the public are not given the purchasing power if they don't want them to suffer.
Even with functioning of Public Distribution and Targeted Public Distribution Systems in the country, the government has been unsuccessful in removing hunger from the country.
Time has come for the people to understand the act properly and get their needful right as shortage of food is the consequence of unemployment and lack of income.
Speaking in the context of Manipur, Dhanabir said the people are distress at times due to lack of import of essential commodities into the state.
Earlier, the state use to export its products to other states.
But now, since the people are reeling in poor, they depend on other states for food supply and other goods.
.YNabachandra, who spoke on the topic "Responsibility of the citizens on the implementation of Food Schemes" and highlighted on giving more awareness about the newly formed act to the public.
He said that the state government is more interested in funding for constructing bridges rather than giving importance to agriculture.
Even the apex bodies of civil society organizations pay less attention to the issue.
PDS is a failed system in Manipur so he urged the public to participate in more programmes regarding the act so that they can make the most benefit out of it, the UCM president said.
.R.KBinoy observed that local authorities should clearly identify people in the BPL and APL category.
The local people should co-operate and work sincerely with the Distribution Supply Officers (DSO) and try to correct the loopholes in the state food distribution system with the new Act.