The article “Food security — of APL, BPL & IPL” (July 6) exposes the hollowness and insincerity of the political class in enacting a law on food security. Politicians have their own agenda to pursue. They remember the aam aadmi only at the time of elections. As for the media, they do not consider legislative measures for the aam aadmi a priority. Unless the common man realises his worth and utilises all the available means for his development, things will remain the same.
G. Kulandaivelu,Panruti
Who is afraid of poverty and food insecurity? When the powers that be have the means to mesmerise the one billion-plus people with doses of an IPL today and a Commonwealth Games tomorrow, and the media are obsessed with non-issues, who cares about those shouting from the rooftops about the irresponsible ways of the government?
Chandran Dharmalingam,The Nilgiris
While it will be Utopian to expect universalisation of the public distribution system, we can certainly strengthen the PDS and make it more accountable. Pragmatic steps in tune with modern times (like GPS tracking) need to be taken to ensure that the goods reach the stores rather than warehouses.
S. Hariharan,Chennai
P. Sainath has rightly said that as per the directive principles, the right to food, education, health and employment should be universal and this has to be ensured by the government under any circumstances and for all citizens. Instead of ensuring this, it is ironical that our Prime Minister extends lip sympathy to inclusive growth arguing, at the same time, for the removal of subsidies.
Is it not hypocritical and shameful to feign helplessness on the ground that there are no funds? It is possible to make food grains available universally at Rs.2 a kg by fine-tuning the enormous amount given as subsidies to big business and high-spenders on luxury goods.
Kasim Sait,Chennai
It is not only on food security but on everything from affordable health care to education that we have double standards. In the name of democracy, we run two systems — one system for the haves and the other for the have-nots. Our country is run not by elected representatives but by corporates for whom profit is everything.
Ganesh Chandrasekaran,Coimbatore
The argument that it will cost the government only Rs.84,399 crore, which is one-sixth of all the tax write-offs for the rich, to provide the necessary rice and wheat subsidy for all Indians is worth pondering over. However, for a complete diet we need pulses and other items. Hence, we should invest on improving the productivity per acre in our fields using new methods and technology.
Varad Seshadri,Sunnyvale
