[Marxistindia] Release Foodgrains through PDS-Brinda Karat

[news from the cpi(m)]

April 19, 2020

Press Release


We are herewith releasing the full text of the letter addressed to  
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri  
Ram Vilas Paswan by CPI(M) Polit Bureau Member, Brinda Karat on April  
18, 2020, urging him to release foodgrain stocks lying with the FCI  
free through the PDS.


For CPI(M) Central Committee Office

*****

Full Text of the Letter

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
Government of India

Dear Shri Paswan ji,

Namaskar. This is with reference to the policy declared by the  
Ministry regarding permission to NGOs to buy rice and wheat directly  
from the FCI godowns for relief work at a reserve price fixed by the  
Government witnout going through e- auctions. The PIB release of April  
8 with this information did not however disclose the fixed price at  
which NGOs are permitted to buy, which it should have given. As far as  
wheat is concerned the fixed price is Rs 21.50 per kg. The price of  
rice is 22.50 per kg. These prices are  extremely high. Even the  
wholesale price data available on the website of the Ministry  shows  
that the open market prices of wheat are lower in many markets than  
what is being offered by the Government to NGOs for relief.

The Government has as on April 7, 54.2 million tonnes of foodgrains in  
storage which is far above the required buffer stock.  In spite of all  
its efforts it has failed to sell this huge surplus stock through e-  
auctions for commercial purposes. This stock is rotting in FCI godowns  
and as is known the Government needs to dispose off the stocks to make  
space in its godowns  for the upcoming rabi wheat procurement.  Now to  
try and offload this stock in the name of relief at these high prices  
to NGOs is shocking and unethical to say the least.

Provision of foodgrains is a responsibility of the Government. The  
Government should distribute this stock free at a time when starvation  
haunts crores of families without any income or work. If it wants to  
involve NGOs and philanthropic organisations in relief work, surely  
its intention should not be to make profits in the name of relief from  
sales of stocks no one else is buying?

I strongly urge you as Food Minister to distribute these stocks free  
through the PDS. The usual conditions of AADHAR and ration cards  
should not apply as many section of the population, particularly  
migrant workers do not have such identification.  The burden of the  
lockdown is falling disproportionately on the shoulders of India’s  
labouring classes. The policy of the Government during the  lockdown  
and in its aftermath, should be suitably altered to address this  
reality.

With regards,

Yours sincerely

Sd/-
(Brinda Karat)
Member, Polit Bureau
Communist Party of India (Marxist)