Opinion Hunger pangs
The Communists have cited a recent report on hunger and malnutrition which revealed that 42 per cent of Indias children under the age of five are underweight
Hunger pangs
The Communists have cited a recent report on hunger and malnutrition which revealed that 42 per cent of Indias children under the age of five are underweight and 58 per cent are suffering from stunted growth to attack neo-liberal economic policies.
An editorial in CPM journal Peoples Democracy says that while the prime minister has rightly called malnutrition a national shame,he remained silent over the bombastic claims made by his government concerning India having achieved the status of an emerging economy and the euphoria over the so-called great success of 20 years of economic reforms ushered by him. It says the government had been repeatedly arguing economic reforms would automatically lead to the improved livelihood of the people. However,the report on hunger and malnutrition,and the recently-released Human Development Report of the Planning Commission,which showed that nearly 310 million people live under the officially defined poverty line,belie those claims.
The article also talks about the governments neglect of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). If the prime minister is really serious about changing this dismal future of India,then steps must be taken to universalise primary health care for all. This requires that at least 3 per cent of our GDP must be spent on health care. Much more than these amount is,however,currently being foregone from being legitimately collected as tax revenue by this government. This came to a staggering Rs 14,28,028 crore during the last three years. Of this,Rs 3,63,875 crore have been concessions to the corporates and the rich, it says.
Tribal rights
Another report in Peoples Democracy highlights the demands to increase budgetary allocation for tribals.
It says while specific allocations were earmarked for the tribal sub-plan for the first time in last years budget,the figures point to serious problems. The Central governments allocations fall far short of the mandatory allocation of at least 8.5 per cent of the budget,proportionate to the tribal population,for tribal development. In the 2011-12 budget,it was only around 5.6 per cent. Moreover,the allocation for tribal specific schemes is a dismal 1.41 per cent of the budget, it claims. The report also highlights the need for the automatic inclusion of all ST communities in the BPL lists and requisite budgetary allocations for that,a special Central scheme for expanding government procurement and guaranteeing a minimum support price for minor forest produce including medicinal plants,increase in stipends of students,setting up of vocational training centres in tribal blocks.
Quoting a memorandum submitted to the finance minister,the report claims that allocations being made to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) for the Green India Mission and other afforestation programmes are being used against tribals,as the forest departments are indiscriminately planting trees on tribals and other forest dwellers lands,denying them their rights.
As an interim measure,the report suggests for all afforestation schemes,the allocation of funds should be given under the joint jurisdiction of the tribal affairs ministry,the panchayati raj ministry and the MoEF,to ensure the provisions of the Forest Rights Act and the PESA Act are complied with,and the rights and powers of forest dwelling communities respected. It also highlights the need for the creation of a Central monitoring body and annual public reports on the tribal sub-plan.
UP and away
An article in CPI weekly New Age laments political parties have shed lofty ideals like secularism and political morality,and relegated issues like development,corruption,rising unemployment,price rise and malnutrition amongst children to the backburner in their Uttar Pradesh election campaign.
The political class has very shrewdly put burning national problems and especially those of UP under the carpet to hoodwink the people, it says. The article talks about the controversy over BJPs induction of Babu Singh Kushwaha and alleges the party with a difference has become a shelter house for the corrupt and the criminals.
Another piece on UP elections wonders whetherMayawatis decision to sack Kushwaha and otherl tainted ministers in an attempt to refurbish her image would work. An article in the New Age attacks the Congress,the BSP and the BJP,but is silent on the Samajwadi Party. For the BJP,it points out the last two years have been a roller-coaster ride. It backed B.S. Yeddyurappa ,then replaced him after the Lokayukta report. To improve its image,the BJP then hopped on to the Anna bandwagon,and now it has inducted tainted leaders into its fold,claims the piece.
Compiled by Manoj C.G.
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