Making legislation is not enough. An item like food is essential for one and all. Its distribution is of paramount importance. We have not only excelled in delivery mechanism, but also plugged the leakage of the public distribution system that takes care of millions of the hungry in our society, said Chief Minister Raman Singh speaking at a symposium on Saturday.
Notably, the CM was speaking in a symposium on ‘Chhattisgarh — The Role Model for India’s Food Security’ organised by The Pioneer marking its year-old journey in Chhattisgarh. Singh said that the Centre and some other States are also planning to bring legislation on food security but Chhattisgarh, the pioneer of bringing the legislation on Right to Food Security and Nutrition, has the experience that regulating out age-old PDS system is not so easy. It needs perseverance and strategy.
After years of struggle, we have not only streamlined the PDS, which in political arena was termed as just a ‘scheme on paper’, but also blocked the leakage, per se 40 per cent of pilferage in the system. Besides, developing a full-proof control and delivery mechanism, he said.
The CORE PDS System, even appreciated by Nobel laureate Amratya Sen and london School of Business is not only unique but also first in the country, Singh said, adding that to develop this system, we had to free it from the monopoly of the dealers as well as other stakeholders who opposed our endeavour tooth and nail resulting in thousands of legal other cases. But ultimately, our efforts bore the fruit and the result is before you all.
He said that in the country, there was neither shortage of funds nor agricultural production. To, administer people governance needed just will power. According to him, if some roads and bridges are not made or get damaged they can be made or improved later but if due to lack of food a mother is deprived of nutrition then not only the child but the entire generation will be affected without any chance of reversal, Singh added.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance and Commercial Tax ( Excluding Prohibition and Registration) DS Misra elaborated on how the Chhattisgarh Right to Food Security Act is different from the proposed central ordinance on Food Security. According to him, the Chhattisgarh Government not only focussed on bringing the vast masses of poor under the umbrella of subsidised food but also made it their right and that too with having nutrition value.
Vice-Chancellor of Kushabhau Thakre University of Journalism and Mass Communication Sachchidanand Joshi lauded the effort of Chhattisgarh Government and thanked Chief Minister Raman Singh for taking care of the millions of poor who were deprived of basic necessity of food, let aside clothing and shelter.
In fact, Joshi thanked the State Government for concentrating on nutrition for both mother and child through this pioneer legislation. Editor-in-Chief of The Pioneer Chandan Mitra thanked Raman Singh not only for pioneering the Right to Food Security and Nutrition Act but also the full-proof delivery system which won appreciation in the country and abroad.
Speaking in the symposium, Mitra also hit hard on ‘paid news’. He said The Pioneer which completed one year of its successful journey in Chhattisgarh believed in journalism based on values instead of any pecuniary consideration and warned that people and history will not forgive the person per se journalist who works otherwise.
Equated journalist and leader both as public servants, he called on the former to maintain the trust of the people and expressed happiness that The Pioneer team did not lag behind on this front. Chairman of The Pioneer’s Raipur Edition Vijay Budhia thanked the august gathering for participating in the discussion.