Church welcomes ‘late’ food security plan

(March 20, 2010) Some Church officials have welcomed the Indian government’s plan to set up a food security fund to reduce the number of deaths from starvation in the country. “We welcome the move, although it is a little late,” said Father Nithiya Sagayam, secretary of the Indian bishops’ Commission for Justice, Peace and Development. A day earlier, Indian media reported that the federal government had drafted a bill to set up a Central Food Security Fund to compensate 65.2 million families living below the poverty line. Each family under this category is entitled to 25 kilograms of wheat or rice through the public distribution system at the subsidized rate of 3 rupees a kilo. However, many families cannot afford even this amount. Federal Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told media yesterday that he expects the cabinet to approve the bill next week. Father Sagayam said it was “a national shame” that the government “took so long to come up with the bill.” The government spends a huge amount to make the country a nuclear power but neglects the poor, he added. He said the Food Corporation of India stores are overflowing with grain but many die because of inadequate relief. He said the Food Corporation of India stores are overflowing with grain but many die because of inadequate relief. Father Babu Joseph, spokesperson for the Indian bishops’ conference, welcomed the bill as a commendable step. “It is a well-intentioned system but very poorly managed.”