The Hindu : Kerala News : Impasse over food scheme continues

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala

Impasse over food scheme continues

C. Gouridasan Nair

Issue to be raised at LDF State committee

CPI reiterates its stand on panel
CPI(M) says panel only to guide and implement the plan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leaders of the CPI(M) and the CPI continue to be locked in a stalemate over the composition of the oversight committee and the method of funding for the proposed food security scheme despite bilateral discussions held here on Monday.

No breakthrough was possible in the matter as neither side was willing to move away from their stated positions on the subject.

The CPI stuck to its stand that there could be no committee chaired by the Chief Minister if the scheme was to be implemented using funds allotted to the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments.

The CPI(M), however, pointed out that the committee was not meant to spend the funds, but to guide and supervise implementation of the scheme.

Speaking to The Hindu, CPI State assistant secretary K.E. Ismail, MP, said his party would not accept any committee that was meant to spend funds allotted for the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Departments.

“We cannot agree with any proposal for implementing the scheme with funds allotted to our departments. If that is the case, we can very well have committees chaired by (Agriculture Minister) Mullakkara Ratnakaran and (Food and Civil Supplies Minister) C. Divakaran,” Mr. Ismail said.

However, CPI(M) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan told The Hindu that the committee was not meant to deal with the funds but rather guide and speed up implementation of the food security scheme. What the CPI(M) wanted was to implement the scheme as a major campaign to bring down Kerala’s dependence on surplus States for foodgrains and vegetables.

The CPI(M), he further said, did not see it as a Centrally proposed scheme, but one that would be implemented taking into account the specificities of Kerala.

The issue, both the sides said, would have to go to the State committee of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is meeting here on Tuesday and Wednesday, for resolution.

‘No paucity of funds’

Staff Reporter writes from Alappuzha: Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac said all confusion regarding the State’s food security mission would be sorted out the next LDF State committee meeting. Talking to reporters here on Monday, Dr. Isaac said nobody had told him that the mission was getting delayed due to paucity of funds. “There is no paucity of funds,” he said, adding that the mission could take off using the budget allocations to different departments. No department has so far begun utilising budget allocations. Once these are used, more funds would be given if necessary. What is more important is coordination between all the departments involved, Dr. Isaac said.

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