In a recent announcement, the Indian government has decided to extend its food security scheme for five years, starting from January 2024 [b691614d]. The scheme, known as the Prime Minister Poor Welfare Food Grains Scheme, aims to provide nation-wide uniformity in the delivery of food grains free of cost in all states through a network of over 500,000 fair price shops. This extension will benefit approximately 813.5 million beneficiaries and will cost the government nearly 11.80 trillion Indian Rupees over the five-year period [b691614d].
This move highlights the government's commitment to ensuring food security and supporting the welfare of its citizens. The scheme was initially introduced in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide free food grains to eligible ration card holders under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) [97627fa3]. By extending the scheme, the government aims to continue providing essential food supplies to those in need and alleviate any potential food insecurity issues.
However, while the government focuses on food security, there is a growing concern regarding the economic security of farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently introduced the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which provides a pension of 50% of the last drawn salary for government employees [781457ee]. This initiative starkly contrasts with the lack of guaranteed prices for farmers, who have faced 25 years of poverty and market volatility. The government has resisted calls for a legally binding Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers, citing concerns about market distortion [781457ee].
The recent crash in soybean prices exemplifies the failures of the market, where prices have not covered production costs, raising urgent calls for agricultural reform to ensure economic security for farmers [781457ee]. The extension of the food security scheme aligns with initiatives taken by Chief Minister Biren Singh in Manipur to safeguard farmers during agricultural activities [5958057e]. The Chief Minister has deployed 2,500 security personnel to provide protection to farmers and compensate those whose land cannot be cultivated due to conflicts. Additionally, labor card holders in relief camps have received financial assistance and reconstructed labor cards [5958057e]. These measures further demonstrate the government's commitment to supporting farmers and ensuring their well-being.
India's economy is projected to grow at a fast pace of over 6% in 2023 and 2024, while a large part of its population continues to receive free food grains from the government [fa291f65]. The ruling BJP, which previously criticized other parties for giving out freebies, is now distributing free food grains through the Prime Minister Poor Welfare Food Grains Scheme [fa291f65]. The extension of the scheme can be seen as a response to rural distress, as indicators such as demand for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and rural teledensity remain low [fa291f65]. The government's commitment to ensuring food security and supporting farmers remains a priority amidst the country's economic growth [fa291f65].
The extension of the food security scheme serves to project the ruling party as capable of addressing problems and doing the right thing, while the India growth story appeals to supporters and attempts to influence fence-sitters [fa291f65]. The BJP understands the duality of society and uses social media to sell different stories to different people [fa291f65].
Overall, these government initiatives highlight India's commitment to ensuring food security and supporting farmers amidst its economic growth. However, there is an urgent need for the government to extend protections similar to those for employees to farmers, ensuring that they are not left vulnerable to market fluctuations and economic disparities [781457ee].