Oppn flays Centre's food policies in RS

The Rajya Sabha on Monday witnessed discussions on food scarcity in the country, with Opposition members claiming that improper food procurement and distribution policies are leading India towards hunger and malnutrition. 

They also accused the government of trying to dismantle the Food Corporation of India (FCI), responsible for food procurement and distribution.

Demanding an overhaul of the food procurement and distribution systems including the Public Distribution System, they demanded that the government should reintroduce the food-for-work scheme through the MGNREGS.

Initiating the debate on the food shortage in the country, senior BJP leader Shanta Kumar said: “Due to lack of proper storage capacity,  each year food grains worth Rs 60,000 crore are wasted.”

Kumar said the government should distribute these food grains through PDS, instead of letting them rot. “The government could distribute ration for 6 months instead for one month,” he added.