Hundreds take part in food security rally in capital

By IANS,

New Delhi: Hundreds of farmers, NGO members and activists took part in a rally here Thursday to demand a change in the government’s policy so that every individual in the country is entitled to minimum amount of food everyday.


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Gathered from 18 states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the rallyists said that in the face of spiralling food prices, the government should take immediate measures to check the food crisis that the country is going through.

Colin Gonsalves of the Right to Food Campaign, leading the rally, said: “Much of the present food crisis is caused by the economic policies of the present and past governments. Therefore, it is essential that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government recognizes this stark reality and all policies that are creating and exacerbating hunger be reversed with immediate effect.”

Kavita Srivastava, one of the campaign managers, said: “In the face of the rising food prices, the UPA government’s plan to enact a National Food Security Act and give 25 kg of food grains to each Below Poverty Line (BPL) household at Rs.3 per kg is meaningless.”

A memorandum with eight demands will also be submitted to the prime minister once he returns Nov 30 from his official visit to the US and the Bahamas.

“The main point in the agenda is the demand for immediate enactment of the Food Entitlements Act so that long term food security is ensured,” Srivastava said.

“Our largest employment sector is agriculture with 60 percent of our population dependent on it. However, this sector is in grave crisis with farmers committing suicide or leaving farming in the face of food shortage. To make matters worse, 278 districts have been struck by the worst drought in years,” she added.

The rallyists marched from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar in central Delhi and camped there with banners and posters.

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