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Disha Shah Email Id: disha.shah2015@sims.edu 1st year (2013-2015) K R Shyam Email Id: kr.shyam2015@sims.edu 1st year (2013-2015) Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Pune How good or bad is India's Food Security Bill The National Food Security Bill, a dream envisioned by Sonia Gandhi, has taken sail. However, what remains to be seen is whether this Congress dream-boat will succeed without sinking the entire country into a bottomless pit of debt. Intended to work as a firewall to the innumerable scandals the government has been embroiled in, it promises food: the roti component of the roti, kapda and makaan trio. It stands not just as a basic service but also as an emotional call for votes. Rahul Gandhi incorporates it into his political campaign saying, "Poori roti khayenge, 100 din kaam karenge, dawaiee lenge aur Congress ko jitayenge" (Eat full roti, work for 100 days, receive free medicines and vote for Congress). Food Security: The mother of all Vote bank schemes The Bill proposes to provide food grains at subsidised rates to two thirds of the country’s population. Poised to be a game changer for the Congress party in terms of garnering the favour of the electorate, the bill was brought into the picture right before the 2014 elections: a move that the Congress hopes will ensure a hat-trick. Sam tactic was applied previously in the 2009 elections through the MNREGA scheme. However, all this will come at a huge cost to the Indian economy which is already in deep crisis. Fig 1: Poll Math Source: Business Standard Journey: Initial Setbacks to Acceptance Amongst Political Class The Food Security Bill has seen its share of initial hiccups while it was tabled in front of UPA’s cabinet for approval. Sharad Pawar, the then a... ...security Bill. However, it needs to be seen if the Indian government can manage the world’s largest food security programme without getting entangled in another scam of sorts. References http://www.firstpost.com/economy/sc-backs-centre-on-cutting-diesel-subsidy-to-bulk-consumers-1112503.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Food_Security_Bill,_2013 http://www.firstpost.com/india/shocker-india-constitutes-40-percent-of-worlds-malnourished-children-916359.html http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-08-30/news/41583434_1_food-security-bill-current-account-deficit-food-subsidy http://www.firstpost.com/economy/food-bill-is-the-biggest-mistake-india-might-have-made-till-date-1062841.html http://forbesindia.com/article/special/the-good-and-bad-of-the-food-security-bill/35135/1 http://www.deccanherald.com/content/213752/food-security-bill-good-politics.html