People's Democracy

HUNDREDS of women from several districts of Orissa literally forced the state food minister, Manmohan Samal, to agree to take action against corrupt officials who have been siphoning off the foodgrains meant for the poor.

This happened at a women’s convention on food rights organised by the Orissa state committee of AIDWA in Bhubaneswar on December 11, which was attended by AIDWA vice president and MP, Brinda Karat and the food minister. The jam-packed hall witnessed the event as women from six districts spoke forcefully about their problems to the minister. The main issues they highlighted were: exclusion of a large number of families from the BPL category; denial of ration cards to a vast number of families; siphoning off of kerosene and foodgrains to the blackmarket etc. The minister tried to pacify the women saying that if they sent him a postcard mentioning their concrete problem, then he would act within 24 hours. The women burst into applause when Brinda Karat interjected saying that the post office would be completely jammed with postcards because there was not a single area where the poor were not facing problem regarding their rights to food. The minister then said that it was not his fault that the BPL cards were not being given as the centre had given a limited quota for the foodgrains and the state government had to remain within that quota. He accepted that the BPL estimates were wrong and need to be changed. In response Brinda Karat pointed out that when she had raised this issue in parliament, it was the BJP member of parliament who had opposed it stating that the BPL estimates need not be changed. She requested the minister to convince his colleagues in Delhi to support the CPI(M) when they raise the issue. The women heard the exchanges between Brinda Karat and the minister with much interest and demanded that the minister should make a categorical assurance that he would take action to ensure that the foodgrains reached the poor.

Speaking at the meeting, Brinda Karat emphasised the need for a universal pubic distribution system and called on the women to fight for their right to food. There can be no women’s advance or empowerment without the basic right to food, she asserted. Tapasi Praharaj, president of AIDWA state unit and Pushpa Panda, general secretary of the state unit also addressed the women.

The following day, two meetings were held in neighbouring villages on the issue of food rights. In one village, which was dominated by adivasi families, the women complained that they were being charged Rs 7.50 for a kilo of rice when the BPL price was at least one rupee less. A spontaneous demonstration took place led by Brinda, Tapasi and leader of the area, Naina, who all went to the ration dealer shop a few kilometers away. The shop owner was confronted by angry women. At first, he absolutely denied that he was charging any extra money but later he had to admit his mistake and assured that he would charge only the actual price. The women have decided to set up a monitoring committee and also ensure that action is taken against him!

Similar meetings are planned in many other areas in the coming days.