Instead calls for a pragmatic approach considering present economic conditions
Sanjay Jog / Mumbai Dec 28, 2012, 18:51 IST
The Nationalist Congress Party, a junior partner in the Congress led United Progressive Alliance, on Friday toughened its stand on issues relating to food security and Aadhar based cash transfer schemes. NCP asked its big brother, the Congress party not to be in a haste in making these decisions. He asked them to be pragmatic. Union agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar at the outset said his party has extended its support to food security bill and Aadhar based cash transfer scheme but it was of the firm view that there decisions should not taken in an hurry.
Earlier, Pawar has supported FDI in multi brand retail during the vote in the parliament. However, he has asked its co-partner Congress in Maharashtra to hold coordination meeting before its launch in the state. By raising objection at the state level, Pawar has indicated that his party is at the forefront to safeguard the interests of the farmers, mathadi workers in particular.
Pawar, who inaugurated NCP state units' state of the art office in south Mumbai, told Business Standard "I during my speech at the National Development Council has put on record my position on the implementation of food security. The decisions in this regard needs to be taken after taking into account the present economic conditions wherein there are rising constraints on carrying out expenditure on various schemes due to falling revenue mobilization. Under the food security programme nearly 68 per cent of the India's population are proposed to get wheat at Rs 2 per kg against the current procurement cost of Rs 18 per kg. The farmers will find it difficult to sell his marketable surplus in such a situation and therefore any decision in this regard should be pragmatic in its nature." Pawar warned that if the farmers fail to get right price for his marketable surplus then he may shift to other crop which may in turn adversely impact the wheat production in future. He also added that if wheat production falls the country would be forced to import it.
Pawar said those living below poverty line (BPL) are getting monthly 35 kg of food grains at Rs 2 per kg. He referred to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement at his speech at the National Development Council that there has been 2 per cent fall BPL families in the country. "If the number of BPL families is reducing why the government is increasing subsidies. Food grains at a concessional rate can be offered to families from dalit, minorities and tribal instead of providing to all BPL families," he noted.
As far as cash transfer scheme is concerned, Pawar said his party is of the view that the central government needs to reconsider the disbursement of cash to the poor based on Aadhar cards. "NCP's women representatives in particular at the recent rally fear that if cash is disbursed there is a possibility that men may use it for drinking alcohol. We will appeal the central government and Congress to take into consideration various objections to the direct cash transfer scheme," he noted.
Meanwhile, Pawar exhorted party members to strive to improve its tally in parliamentary and Maharashtra state assembly elections slated for 2014. However, he clarified that NCP was not keen to claim more seats from its ally Congress party but was quite keen to improve its striking rate by winning more seats. "During 2009 elections, NCP, which contested elections in an alliance with Congress, won 62 seats from 114 seats alloted to it. Efforts should be done to win 100 seats as expressed by several leaders," he added.
Pawar indicated that despite neglect and humiliation from the Congress party his party was quite keen to continue its alliance in 2014 to keep the communal forces at bay. However, state party chief Madhukar Pichad and NCP leader Praful Patel in their speeches warned that NCP would not tolerate Congress party's rigid policies in future but make all efforts to become number one party in Maharashtra. Pichad went a step further and said the party should prepare itself to fight alone ensuing elections.