"GRAIN " drain

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 when it has no fate but decaying. Even after the Supreme Court orders to distribute grains no action took place what do you expect from such a government ?

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….