Food Security Bill: Hidden agendas?

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “There is a hidden agenda behind the Central Government’s attempt to implement the Food Security Bill without listening to the public opinion” said  National Mahila Federation general secretary Annie Raja in a press meet here on Sunday.By implementing the Bill in its present form, the government is setting the ground for purchasing foodgrains from the corporates for distribution, she said.“There are many drawbacks in the draft, which was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee and the major one is that all powers are concentrated with the Centre. It would dilute the powers from the states,” she added.Annie Raja also said that the most harmful provision of the Bill was the transaction of money through ration shops, which would lead to the collapse of the rationing system. Kerala Mahila Sangham working president Indira Raveendran, who was also there in the press meet, said that Indian Medical Association’s statement to enforce ESMA against the agitating nurses should be condemned.