'Hunger deaths on rise in country'

Hunger deaths have been on the raise in the country with every passing day despite the Constitutional guarantee of Right to Life. While tonnes of food grains have been rotting in warehouses, poor are struggling for two square meals a day, the Federation has said in a press release.

Apex court directive
The Supreme Court in a directive issued in 2000 has said that it forms the bounden duty of the governments to prevent hunger deaths.

However, hunger has assumed gargantuan proportion in the country. The Federation has said that the proposed Food Security Bill should lay emphasis on conservation of water and soil, provide for support price for all crops, abolish Above Poverty Line and Below Poverty Line categorisation in Public Distribution System, ensure food grains at half price for lone women, widows, senior citizens, minorities and people suffering from serious diseases. It has also urged to increase the social security payment to infirm and destitutes to at least half the daily wage.  The release has urged the Union Minister to raise these issues during the discussion on Food Security Bill.