IF MID-DAY meal is to educate India then there is grain politics to democratise India. With the hope that rice at cheaper rate will fetch more votes, raining of populist sops are hot potatoes in time of elections. Congress’ announcement of 25 kg of rice per poor family at Rs 3 per kg is certainly not the first time that promises of cheap grain have been made.
In 1967, DMK pledged it would give three measures of rice for one rupee in TN. That was the first time it came to power in the state. Later, NTR Rama Rao took a leaf out of Tamil Naidu in 1983 when he borrowed Anna’s winning formula and offered rice at Rs 2 per kg. That was 26 years ago.
Suddenly last year, it was the ‘Big Idea’ for politicians. In 2008, many states saw parties promising, or governments giving subsidised grains to the poor. The year began with the Chattisgarh government introducing a scheme of 35 kg of rice at Rs 3 per kg for families Below the Poverty Line (BPL). In April, the Madhya Pradesh Government followed suit, announcing 20 kg of wheat at Rs 3 per kg or 20 kg of rice at Rs 4.
5 per kg for the poor. And the list goes on with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa.
A close look at the electoral dividends will unfold the success of grain politics. Karunanidhi in TN, Shivraj Chauhan in MP, Raman Singh in Chhattisgarh and BSYedyuruppa in Karnataka, all won the elections following the promise or delivery of cheap grain.
No doubt, these are all populist promises clearly aimed to lure the voter. It is not bad at a time when governments across the world are pouring billions into bailout packages for corporate fat cats. The question is whether this would really reach the poor or be eaten away by middlemen. On the other side these measures only came to existence before elections as gimmicks rather than sincere policies. Once upon a time India was very poor, now is the time when India is hungry, many for grains and some for votes.
