The Indian GDP boasts of statistics
so high that they shall reach the sky in a few more years. But the reality
seems to sink at an even deeper level . Just
after Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj went on a protest against the central
government after negligence and putting-
the – blame- on – anybody- possible parliamentary sessions the news channels went flooded with it .
Once again the hot is on the
carelessness of the central government regarding storage of food grains . The recent case is that of the 85 metric
tonnes of wheat which doesn’t have any fate regarding storage. Madhya Pradesh government is out of jute bags
to store the surplus wheat. The state had assumed the annual income to be about
50 metric tonnes and accordingly had ordered jute bags from the central government.
And now when there is bumper production
the surplus grain cannot be put into jute bags. Fact says that the government had
ordered half the requirement form the Jute Mill Association and half from a
private company. But in January the private tender failed and even the rest bags
were demanded from the jute mills of Bengal . Being
the supplier to all the states they couldn’t
supply such a big order in few months.
Tonnes of wheat had rotten
the previous year too but the government doesn’t seem to notice the need for
better storage facilities. What happened
last year is a contradiction to what our production rate is. When 2 metric
tonnes of wheat went non- edible for human use it was auctioned to people at
Rs. 1200 per tonne for whole grain and
just Rs. 650 per tonne for husk . ( Which was used to make alcohol later
.) Did this bring about change ? No !
Such happenings are not as of
now. Even in 1979 there was a Save Grain Campaign. And happenings continue.
Who is to be blamed? The
state governments ? Or the central one ? Both are equally responsible.. In a country
where 66% of the population is malnourished tonnes of grain is wasted. This is no
justification. What use do we have of the grain production in India
Some say grains in Punjab are left unattended purposely so as to increase
alcohol production in the state. Nothing
more than sheer illness of mind if this
is the case. The FCI is responsible for making cold storages in the country to
store grains. But they don’t. The state
government is supposed to open more warehouses . But even they don’t. If this
is the case. Where do the Indian farmers go?
To develop internally we
surely do need a better Storage system
and policies. The Indian government has policies regarding food
production but null as of grain storage. Development here is Incomplete….
