The programme that substantially contributed to the ruling Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) the massive victory in the May 2009 Assembly elections, the third in a row, was the offer of rice at Rs2 per kg to families covered under the BPl survey, 1997. The APl and BPl families in the KBK region and BPl families in the rest parts of the State availed the benefit.
Personal interest taken by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other Ministers ensured the effective delivery of rice to the beneficiaries, making this a popular and extremely successful scheme. For any average voter, both rural and urban, this was the single most contribution of the Patnaik Government.
Now, under another scheme, rice will be distributed at Rs1 per kg to the poor.
The critics say that instead of doling out to cheap rice to the poor, the Government should focus on developing irrigation, infrastructure and employment potential of the State. No doubt, the welfare food security scheme was justified and essential in a State where almost one-third of the population remains under the BPl category and struggle to get two square meals a day. Moreover, incidents of starvation deaths in Kalahandi and other backward pockets of the State are still fresh in the public memory.
But the moot question is how it affected the labour availability and agriculture-economy of the State. The general criticism against the scheme is it makes the people idle and lazy, thus severely affecting agriculture production and food security of the State, as a considerable portion of available agriculture land got uncultivated. It is interesting to know despite a huge hue and cry over the scheme and its far-reaching political and economic implications, no institutionalised survey has been undertaken by either the Government or any private body.
Despite a huge chunk of land left fallow because no farming was undertaken on it due to high cost and unavailability of labourers, crop failure and other reasons, the net food production level for last couple of years has not reduced substantially.
As per the State Economic Survey, 2011-12 figures, the total food production of the State in 2009, 2010 and 2011 stood at 86.55 lakh MT, 87. 47 lakh MT and 93.73 lakh MT, respectively, out of which rice production was 68.13 lakh MT, 69.17 lakh MT and 68.28 lakh MT. Similarly, during the same period, main crop production like pulses and oilseed stood at 3.81 lakh MT, 3.98 lakh MT, 4.27 lakh MT for pulses and 1.52 lakh MT ,1.50 lakh MT and 2.22 lakh MT for oilseeds, respectively. However, land used to non-agricultural purpose has been increased from 7.46 lakh hectares in 1990-91 to 12.98 lakh hectares in 2010-11 and barren and uncultivable land has been increased from 4.99 lakh hectares in 1990-91 to 8.40 lakh hectares in 2010-11.
According to agro scientists, the increase of food production in the State, despite obvious constraints, is generally because of increased use of fertilisers, quality seed, mechanised farming and no major flood and drought in the recent years, barring crop losses here and there. Dr. S Pasupalak, Head of the Department of Agro-Meteorology, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), says the decline in agro production in the State is compensated, largely due to availability and use of draught and flood resistant quality seeds, increased use of fertiliser, increase in number of personal deep wells and bore wells for irrigation purposes, use of tractors and other agro equipment in rural areas. He cited the use of fertiliser which increased from less than 40 kg per acre a few years ago to 60-62 kg per acre now. He further said the average rice production in our State is approximately nine quintal per hectares and minimum support price (MSP) of Rs1,150 per quintal. A farmer earned on an average of Rs10,000, where the cost of production comes out to Rs12 to15, 000, keeping in view the fact that as at least 80 labourers, apart from a big quantum of fertiliser and other inputs are needed for production of rice over an acre of land. Moreover, there is no insurance on rice and other major crops of the State in case of crop failure, except some relief. Agro- experts are of the view that the main reason of distress sale is there is a surplus rice production to the tune of 8-10 lakh MT as around 56 lakh MT is sufficient for feeding 3.6 crore population. These surplus areas, where rice is cultivated, including the up-lands or dry lands, can be used for pulses, cash crops, vegetables and horticultural produces.
However, the politicians have a different take on the issue. According to former Minister and senior BJP leader Biswabhusan Harichandan, the food security scheme aims at increasing the support base for the ruling party than helping the real needy like old, widows and the handicap people. "It will completely destroy the working culture and young working population of the State. The Government should take up food for work schemes in the line of MNERGA to utilize young labour force of the State," he opined. Interestingly, there is still confusion over the number of population under BPl in the State. As per the Economic Survey, 2012-13, the poor population of the State was reduced to 37 per cent from almost half of the population a couple of years ago. According to official figures, around 48 per cent of the State's people are poor (1997 BPl survey). Similarly, the Tendulkar Committee on estimation of poverty, appointed by the Planning Commission of India, puts the figure at 57 per cent. Odisha's population is 3.67 crore as per 2001 population census and 4.36 crore as per the latest 2011 census. Nearly, 58 lakh families get the benefit of the subsidised rice scheme.
Similarly, according to NSSO data, 85.50 per cent of farmers' households in the State are marginal farmers and 71.5 per cent of the marginal farmers own less than 0.5 hectare or little over one acre of land. Similarly, despite obvious food security, distress migration is still on the rise in the State. The recent Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report reveals that despite the MNREGS, the State witnessed a 116 per cent increase in rural migration. There is large-scale distress migration from the State's western districts including Balangir, Nuapada and Kalahandi to the brick kilns in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu owing to lack of employment in the source areas. From Balangir alone, 1.5 lakh out of 13 lakh people migrated to other States in 2009, according to data from MIRC (Migration Information and Resource Centre), a research agency studying migration issues. Family and individual migration from southern districts like Koraput and Rayagada is also on the rise too. Umi Daniel, an expert on migration, pegs State's rural migrant population at 20 lakh people per year.
To conclude, this subsidised scheme is still a debatable issue. But one thing is clear: It gives a cushion of living particularly to the old, handicap, widow and other weaker sections of the society and will possibly affect agro -production in the long run. This scheme does not minimise hostile migration either. But the positive side of the story is that with less availability of manpower in the sector, it will compel land owners and the Government to adopt better agro-practices like mechanised farming, co-operative farming and corporate farming etc in the long run.
Similarly, with assured food stock at home, young working people in rural area are now looking for better rewarding non-agricultural jobs and have started moving both within and outside the State. This movement is also migration but definitely not distress or forced one.