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Economic Debate on Tele-Media: Commercial
treatment of Food Security discussion
By: Amit Bhushan contact:[email protected] Date: 30 July 2013
The media is lately trying to attempt catch up with online genre by sponsoring debates on the Hot
economic issues, which seem to be in season amongst host of other sundry issues in electorally poised
India. While this is welcome, however the commercial nature of such discussions needs to be
highlighted, so that at least the learned audience is aware of its pitfalls.
On the face of it, the Television prime time journalists seem to be making enough effort by debating
issues with not only with politicians of the ruling regime as well as principal opposition including those
from sundry political outfits where required; but also includes some independent experts sprinkling
doses criticism as well as some representatives of public voicing independent opinion. The format of
such debate may seem an ideal platform but for the pitfall, that a congregation of dumb charades
gloating over issues cannot help formulation of public opinion or take forward an already Red Hot
discussion.
While the independent economist and public are excited to show off their intellectual masturbation in
public to ignore the lopsided silo-ed discussion is understood but even political opposition including the
principal opposition party joining the chorus seems a bit nave unless the intention is to help improve
the perception of the government. The discussion is pre-fabricated turf to push the government agenda
for Food security reforms that would somehow solve the nutrition problem of the country seems too
obvious conclusion which such television dramatist are trying to conclude. The real debate which
includes the below categories is being ignored for giving a leg up for the lame duck government.
To talk about the specifics on the Food Security bill; the points of discussion can be segregated under
below heads:
1. Sanctity of numbers being presented: There are two fold aspects to this. First is the estimatesof people who lack access to food and therefore in need for such security, there entry and exit
criteria and governance of the same. The government seems totally confused about this in a bill
being presented to make an implementable Law and its recent reports have added confusion as
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private on production via fertilizer and irrigation & often subsidies, expenditure on storage
including Food Corp and other public storages, expenditure on market such as APMC and private
and public distribution through PDS. This has helped nation to be amongst leading producer of
cereals and our per capita availability is enough to meet our requirements. However such
market development activity for nutrition crops i.e. vegetable and fruits is absent or has barely
started to develop and in rudimentary state presently (in spite of the expenditure done in past
few years). In such case, is government argument is that the people would be able to solve all
this by themselves although for cereals they have not been able to do so in past 40 years since
such support programs were initiated. Or are they banking on imports being able to solve the
problem and is ok about it. What happens to the domestic economy and why do we have only
consumption drivers and no production drivers in agriculture??? Is current agriculture suffering
from a demand problem or an affordability problem or a distribution problem. The law intendsto attack only the affordability problem and brings in a system whereby state is to act as a large
procurement and distribution specialist, a task in which it has failed miserably over the years.
For some obscure reason, alternative mechanism of Direct subsidy transfer is being put in cold
storage for now.
3. Situation context in which the law is being presented: The need for the Food Security law is feltat the fag end of the term for the present government when people have openly expressed
displeasure with the policies & practices of the current dispensation. This only serves as an
additional cause for skepticism. Those who want to read more about this, can go through the
article attached.
Governance in India, a diminishing marginal Utility or on Scribd or ManagementParadise.com for which the link is attached.
http://www.managementparadise.com/article/4892/governance-in-india-a-diminishing-
marginal-utility-or
4. Global context in which the law is being presented: The law is being presented in a phase ofglobal gloom when no grand driver to move forward productivity & growth in economy is being
seen. While most governments seem to be rethinking subsidies especially in Europe under the
weight of IMF/European Bank, in India we seem comfortable piling on a Law for committed
http://www.managementparadise.com/article/4892/governance-in-india-a-diminishing-marginal-utility-orhttp://www.managementparadise.com/article/4892/governance-in-india-a-diminishing-marginal-utility-orhttp://www.managementparadise.com/article/4892/governance-in-india-a-diminishing-marginal-utility-orhttp://www.managementparadise.com/article/4892/governance-in-india-a-diminishing-marginal-utility-orhttp://www.managementparadise.com/article/4892/governance-in-india-a-diminishing-marginal-utility-or -
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