The food problem in India |
Miss BHOBANI BORUAH—3rd. Year, B. A |
India's economic situation particularly on the food crisis becomes a dangerous problem which can be epitomized simply as one of too many births and too many deaths resulting in a low survival rate and the survival population live a life, but not a good life worth-living. The true reason on the other hand is poverty among the masses. Again the uncontrolled procreation involves serious problem both for a nation and a family. It has outstripped the food supply. Now the food supply is not only insufficient but also lacking in nutritious element.
In the implementation of the second Five Year Plan, India has run into some difficulties. There has been a severe pressure on her balance of payment and there has been some rise in internal prices particularly on food grains. The food crisis is spreading over large areas of the country especially in Bihar, Orissa, Rajosthan, U. P., and West Bengal. It was only recently when the food crisis bad already deepened in the state causing wide-spread distress to the poorer and middle class people then the West Bengal Government seized hoarded quantities of rice from a number of mill owners in Calcutta and its sub-urban areas. Even then because of an order of the High Court which has declared that the state government's action under the pro- visions of the Essential Commodities Act is ultra vires while the Act itself is intravires, the West Bengal Govt. have not been able to dispose of the seized stocks for the benefit of the general sections of consumers through fair price shops, modified rationing or otherwise. The drought has caused a havoc to the food situation and we are assured by the government that available import of the food-stuff from abroad may solve the current food problem of India. But mere dependence on foreign countries for the supply
of the vitally needed food-stuff even after ten years of the functioning
