LUCKNOW: Demanding universalisation of public distribution system and subsidy in food grains, various Left wing organisations on Thursday slammed both the central and the state governments for not providing relief to the people from the steep price hike in the food grains witnessed in the country in last few months.

The basic argument put forward by these organisations was that when the state government can spend over Rs 25,000 crore on statues and memorials, why can't it subsidise food grains for poor as done in 10 other states. For example, Chhattisgarh government has sanctioned Rs 1,450 crore for providing food grains at Re 1 kg to tribals and at Rs 2 per kg under Antyodaya scheme. Similarly, the Andhra Pradesh government has allocated Rs 2,800 crore and Tamil Nadu Rs 3,000 crore for providing subsidised food grains to the below poverty line (BPL) families. But in UP, they added, Mayawati government has been indulging in blame game with the central government instead of taking concrete measures to help poor.

The organisations which included the All India Democratic Women's Association, Students Federation of India, All India Kisan Sabha and Democratic Youth Federation of India also lambasted Congress-led central government for price hike. Universalisation of public distribution system requires allocation of only 2% of GDP, which can be recovered by withdrawing tax benefits given to the private sector. The activist also blamed the Congress-led government for reducing the amount of food grains given under Antyodya scheme from 35 kg per month to 25 kg. This, they said, will save Rs 4,000 crore, indicating how people have been fooled by the government in the name of providing food security.

They also pointed out that as per Arjun Sengupta Commission, daily income of 77% of the people in the country is less than Rs 20, which by all standards is extremely low for the survival of a family. They said that according to government's definition, the families with daily income of Rs 11.80 in rural areas and Rs 17.80 in urban areas are considered to be BPL. As a result, 73% of the poor in UP have been deprived of subsidy benefits. They said that when prices of pulses have crossed Rs 90 per kg mark, such low BPL limits are atrocious.