Food act tastes bitter for Chhattisgarh Congress

Opposition sees loads of flaws in BJP's food act

How can food security of a school boy in Chhattisgarh be ensured when its vacation time?

The query-one among a series of questions put by opposition Congress- had opened a new debate on the much publicised Chhattisgarh Food Security and Nutrition Act 2013. The BJP government claimed it as its landmark achievement by introducing the first model in the country.

"The Chief Minister, Raman Singh is patting his back and advising to introduce (Chhattisgarh model) in the entire state despite the fact that he had failed to implement it in his own state," former minister and senior Congress legislator Mohammed Akbar said.

The much published act is on papers, he said, adding that government was misguiding people by claiming that the food security act was in force in the state for the last five years. "Food Minister Punnulal Mohile had himself said in a letter that foodgrains under the provision of act had been released from May 1, 2013," Akbar added.

The Congress party had also pointed out a number of flaws in the state food security act. "The provisions do not mention about the food security of a school going boy when it is vacation time," Akbar said. The Act had provision of distribution free foods in the school only.

Moreover, the government had said that it would ensure food security for the natural calamity victims for three months. The Congress said if the nature of calamity was severe, then the victims had to sleep empty stomach after three months. A starving person in municipal limits would get food for six months. "There would be no one to take care, if his condition does not improve within six months," he added.