Activists demand more time to provide feedback on BRAI Bill

Social activists have sought at least 90 days to study the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRIA) Bill, 2013, introduced in the Parliament, to prepare their feedback.
The Bill, introduced by Minister for Science and Technology S Jaipal Reddy on April 23, aims to promote use of modern biotechnology by enhancing the effectiveness of regulatory procedures.
The Rajya Sabha Secretariat had issued a notification on June 11 seeking feedback on the Bill within 30 days.
Activists claim that this is a very short period and was an attempt by the government to get the Bill passed without any discussion.
"In keeping with the best of democratic traditions and processes, the BRAI Bill 2013 should be made available for public feedback for at least 90 days," Convener of Jatan Trust , Kapil Shah, told mediapersons here.

"Public hearing and healthy discussion on the Bill should be held in different states to gather public opinion in a transparent manner," Shah said.

He also demanded that the Bill be translated in regional languages as farmers across the country are unable to read English, the language in which the Bill was introduced.
Shah said that the Bill does not concern only farmers but the entire country because it is related to food security.
Gujarat Vidhyapith registrar Rajendra Khemani said that the Bill was being introduced to increase food production in the country despite India having resources to feed 210 crore people.

"Are we introducing this Bill to increase food production? Current food grains production can feed around 210 crore people," Khemani said while alleging that the Bill was one-sided and sought to allow backdoor entry to multi-national companies.
RSS affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), Gujarat Khedut Samaj, Anandi, Jatan, Shantigram Nirman Mandal, among other civil society organisations are opposing the Bill in its current form.
To educate farmers and common people about the Bill, activists associated with these organisations will hold meetings in every district of Gujarat next week.
The BRAI Bill does not conform to the principles for regulation recommended by the Task Force on Agricultural Biotechnology, whose report was accepted by the Indian government in 2004.

The Task Force had recommended environmental safety, farmers' well-being, ecological and economic sustainability of farming systems, protecting home and external trade and nation's biosecurity among other things, which is not reflected in the Bill, activists have also claimed.