food versus liquor the india of 2010 euro care, 21 st june 2010, brussels kshithij urs bangalore,...
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Food Versus Liquor
The India of 2010Euro Care, 21st June 2010, Brussels
Kshithij UrsBangalore, India. [email protected]
Analysis of the Food grain based liquid and Integrated Material Financial Aid, 2007 by
Sachin TiwaliNirman, Pune [email protected]
India – some recent facts
1.2 Billion peopleNext Census will take place in 2011
77 to 80% of population lives in less than Rs.20 per dayArjun Senguptha Commission 2006
Suresh Tendulkar Commission 2009-10
Extreme Inequality Alternative Economic Survey 2008
Food Inflation, at 18% is amongst the highest in the world but more than 300,000 farmers of committed suicide in the last ten years
Deep transformation
A state of Political VacuousnessFetish for corporate governancePriority for physical and commercial infrastructure over social
infrastructureAcceptance and promotion of unbridled corporate power
A strong, state-promoted ‘Primitive Accumulation’
Indian capital expansion dependant on exploitation of natural resources
Emergence of Non-state institutions with executive decision making powers at the cost of deliberative democracy
Food grain based liquid and Integrated Material Financial Aid - 2007*
Alcohol production from food grains Subsidies on this production
Criteria
Alcohol only from food grains opposed to the conventional Molasses-based production
Required grains have to be bought in Maharastra Produced Liquor has to be sold within Maharastra
* Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
Status in January 2010
32 grain based liquor distilleries sanctioned State providing subsidies of Rs.10 per liter 10 distilleries have started production More than US $ 5 Million already distributed to three of
the these production units Each unit is eligible for US $ 11 Million public money as
subsidies each year
Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
“Primary Motive” of the government
‘To help rain-fed farmers by providing them good prices for Jowar, Corn and Bajra’
‘This will consequently reduce farmers’ suicides’ ‘Because of the unpredictable rains, jowar gets
rotten….and we will use this to manufacture alcohol and provide good returns to farmers’
Shortage of alcohol also quoted as a reason
Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
Of dubious links and wrong trends
Knowing fully well that there is no second opinion on the ill effects of liquor, the state has deliberately linked alcohol to development and to farmers’ welfare
Subsidies to liquor and making it an essential need of the people of the state
Will Cigarettes be subsidised to help Tobacco growers? MITCON has suggested Rs.5 as subsidy, not Rs.10 Shifting focus from historic problems like malnutrition,
education and health to ‘shortage of alcohol’
Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
Whither Food Security?
Combined production of the sanctioned Distilleries is 460 million liters of absolute alcohol
Each liter requires around 2.8 KGs of grain, a total of 1.3 Million tonnes of grain for alcohol
2008-09 total production of grain in the state is 10.01 Million tonnes (13% goes for liquor)
In the same year 2.54 Million tonnes were imported to match the shortage
Jowar and Bajra form major part of rural diet
Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
Fallout
Contributing to existing child mortality due to malnutrition (45000 every year)
With annual per capita cereal consumption of 104 KGs, the grain-liquor production is equivalent to the needs of 10 million people of the state
Food reduces and availability of alcohol will increase Attempt to break the solidarity for women who have
consistently opposed liquor in the state who also form majority of the farmers
Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
Who are benefiting?
Son of Heavy Industries’ Minister Vilas Rao Deshmuk (Congress)
Daughter of Deputy leader of Lower House Gopinath Munde (BJP)
Sons-in-Law of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao (Congress)
GovindaRao Adhik, the leader of Nationalist Congress Party
Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
Ignoring other Voices
The proposal of mass movements was to increase the demand for farm produce by direct procurement and distributing through subsidized PDS
Stop import of Rice and Wheat from distant states Respect local diet The High Court in the state refused to accept a PIL
quoting its non-interference in state policies – A case of Inarticulate Major Premise?
Based on analysis by Sachin Tiwale
Anti Alcohol Movement
Anti-Alcohol struggles may not fully comprehend emerging challenges
Political orientation of these struggles found wanting Disconnect between research centers and mass
organisations Corporate cooption of the media and the medias’
cooption of the civil society Dwindling democratic space and a militant state has
temporarily curtailed the emergence of stronger counter ideas and actions
Thank you