PROBLEM OF PLENTY ?

By 1^st of June 2012 , stock of food grains with FCI ( Food Corporation of India ) will reach 75.7 million tons

But , no more than 50 million tons can be kept under covered storage !

Rest will be left to rot in the open under the monsoon rains

Even as 1.6 million children ( under 5 ) will die of mal-nutrition in 2012

That is 4,384 children every single day !

A panel headed by Mr. C Rangarajan [ Chief Economic Advisor to Prime Minister ] , recommends following way for disposing the “ Surplus “ stock :

1.  Export

  

·     2 million tons ….  thru Government Channels

·     1 million tons ….  thru Private Channels

2.  Distribute

·     8 million tons…   to families below poverty line

·     2 million tons…   to families above poverty line

Earlier , a Group of Ministers [ GoM ] headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had shot down the proposal to distribute 10 million tons of surplus food grains to poor people because of “ Fiscal Constraints “ !

For him , saving 1.6 million children at a “ Subsidy Cost “ of Rs 19,500 Crores , works out to a whooping Rs 12,187 per child saved !

Clearly unthinkable for a “ Would Be “ President of India !

With regards

HEMEN  PAREKH