Strikes: Handing the baton?

The growing threat to food security, as signified in wheat imports, is the subject of a scathing article by politburo member Brinda Karat. 8220;Step by step, one of the most crucial components of self reliance, that is food self sufficiency and food security have been systematically eroded,8221; she writes.

The public distribution system is in a shambles. The government, now, is preparing to deal the 8220;final blow8221; by cutting the supply of foodgrains to PDS by slashing family quotas, hiking prices of rations and cutting foodgrain component in wages paid in employment generation schemes. According to Karat, the 8220;neo-liberal policy framework8221; is the primary reason for the so-called mismanagement of the food system and there are four components of this. Firstly, the emphasis on export-oriented cash crops is a major reason for current shortfalls of wheat production and diversification, without a policy of bringing alternative land under wheat production, would be disastrous. Secondly, wheat deficits are the result of the 8220;deliberate policy8221; of the government to cut down on procurement on the one hand and encouraging private trade on the other.

Thirdly, the Food Corporation of India is being 8220;systematically weakened8221; and finally, the Targeted Public Distribution System had 8220;miserably failed8221;, she says. She suggests that the Cabinet must reject the proposals by the Agriculture Ministry in this regard.

Charting course in Kerala, Bengal

At the recent victory celebration of the Left parties held in Hyderabad, the two victorious chief ministers8212;Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and VS Achutanandan8212;outlined the priority areas for their governments.

Bhattacharjee admitted there was indeed an 8220;anti-incumbency factor8221; in the state, related to unemployment, poverty, lack of electricity in some villages and poor roads. But it was the state government8217;s approach to land reforms that helped them tide over the problems. Actually, consolidation of gains in agriculture was a priority area.

He also mentioned how the state was attracting domestic investment as well as foreign direct investment, especially in the manufacturing sector, that would give jobs to millions. In IT, he said, Kolkata8217;s growth would outstrip both Hyderabad and Bangalore. Healthcare and education were the other priority areas. In contrast, the report on Achutanandan8217;s address made it evident that the new Kerala Chief Minister was planning his policies close to his image. The state government, he said, will protect people against 8220;neo-liberal policies8221;. Despite the state8217;s fiscal crisis, the LDF government had decided to write off the debts of farmers who had committed suicide, the police cases against tribals who fought for their land rights would be withdrawn and possession certificates would be given to all deserving tribal cultivators. Mentioning women voters specifically, he said the LDF government would book culprits of sex rackets and related crimes. The report makes no mention of whether the Kerala Chief Minister has been meeting MNC heads and other business leaders with plans to invest in the state.

Compiled by Ananda Majumdar