-The Times of India
JAIPUR: The " Rozi Roti Adhikar Yatra" (rally for right to food and employment) that was flagged off from Udaipur district on September 30, reached Jaipur on Saturday after traversing through six districts where it created awareness among people to fight for food security for all without distinction on economic criteria.
Several other rallies in the state to demand an effective national food security legislation started from different directions in the state (Barmer, Hanumangarh, Bikaner and Alwar) also reached Jaipur and culminated in a public assembly at Statue Circle.
Activists at the rally later submitted a memorandum to governor Margret Alva, urging the state and Central governments to open up the food godowns and distribute the foodgrains on subsidised rates to the people.
"Our struggle is to get the APL-BPL division removed. This distinction is destructive. The godowns should be opened for all families," said Kavita Srivastava, secretary of PUCL, one the organisations behind the rally. She added, "Everyone should be given subsidised and inexpensive cereals, pulses and edible oil. Government should provide approximately 10 kgs of cereals, 1.5 kg of pulses and 900 gms of edible oil to every person every month."
Other demands of the rally organisers included, unconditional pension of Rs 2,000 for every woman, disabled persons and aged people, rations cards for all migrant labourers, whether they are from the state or not, privatization of mid-day meal scheme be stopped and the children who do not go to schools be also provided midday meals and the government’s first call on our Jal (Water), Jungle (Forest), Zameen (Land) should be for food and not for dams, mining and factories.