NHRC recommends constitution of Watch Committees for a hunger free India.
New Delhi October 16, 2007
As the World Food Day is being observed today i.e October 16, 2007, with ‘Right to Food’ being this year’s theme, the National Human Rights Commission has outlined the need for constituting Committees at various levels in every State of the country to act as Watch Committees so as to ensure Right to Food. The Commission, which has a Core Group on Right to Food, has come out with guidelines for constitution of such committees. The Commission has said that Right to Food is not only a constitutional guarantee but also a basic human right. The Commission which monitored the starvation deaths in KBK (Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput) districts of Orissa, on remittance from the Supreme Court has time and again expressed its concern on instances of starvation, large-scale malnutrition and lack of access to agencies and schemes providing food security. The Commission has observed that despite government schemes and Public Distribution System (PDS) being in place, starvations deaths continue to haunt the Indian population.
In order to ensure, quality execution of Right to Food, the Commission has recommended constitution of Committees which would monitor the access and availability of foodgrains to the eligible and most vulnerable sections of the society.
The very job of these Committees would be to see that the schemes are properly implemented and foodgrains are available and distributed properly. It was decided that the Committee would consist of three members one each from Panchayats - preferably women/SC/STs; a representative of the local NGO or other socio-cultural institutions and a government representative like Patwari or Lekhpal.
The Committees would perform the functions such as Monitoring the availability of food, distribution of foodgrains, see that the schemes are properly implemented and not misused and reporting to the concerned authorities in the State or to the NHRC.
The Committees would also monitor the availability of foodgrains at the PDS, would see to it that it is not sold at higher prices than the government prescribed prices and collect data on the number of families living below poverty line in that particular area.
As far as distribution of foodgrain is concerned, the Committees would see that the distribution of foodgrain takes place without any black-marketing at Public Distribution System, would conduct surprise checks at Anganwari centers including having a look at the record of utilization of food under ICDS programme, see to it that adequate food godowns are available under a particular Panchayat or at Block level and would monitor that special cards to BPL families are issued so that they are assured of special subsidized food items under PDS.
These Committees would also have close contacts with household, especially BPL, SC/STs and other vulnerable groups. They would also lay emphasis on monitoring the schemes, particularly, those on poverty alleviation and employment generation. These Committees would ensure greater transparency in the implementation of existing schemes. The monitoring would include reporting of physical and financial performance. The Committee would be empowered to have a copy of the periodic progress reports, audit and utilization certificates of various schemes and programmes implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development and Department of Women and Child Development.
The Commission has issued the guidelines on the constitution and functioning of the committees to all the State governments and the Central Ministries.
The Commission hopes that if implemented in letter and spirit, these Committees, which will act as Watch Committees, would pave the way for a hunger free India.
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As the World Food Day is being observed today i.e October 16, 2007, with ‘Right to Food’ being this year’s theme, the National Human Rights Commission has outlined the need for constituting Committees at various levels in every State of the country to act as Watch Committees so as to ensure Right to Food. The Commission, which has a Core Group on Right to Food, has come out with guidelines for constitution of such committees. The Commission has said that Right to Food is not only a constitutional guarantee but also a basic human right. The Commission which monitored the starvation deaths in KBK (Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput) districts of Orissa, on remittance from the Supreme Court has time and again expressed its concern on instances of starvation, large-scale malnutrition and lack of access to agencies and schemes providing food security. The Commission has observed that despite government schemes and Public Distribution System (PDS) being in place, starvations deaths continue to haunt the Indian population.
In order to ensure, quality execution of Right to Food, the Commission has recommended constitution of Committees which would monitor the access and availability of foodgrains to the eligible and most vulnerable sections of the society.
The very job of these Committees would be to see that the schemes are properly implemented and foodgrains are available and distributed properly. It was decided that the Committee would consist of three members one each from Panchayats - preferably women/SC/STs; a representative of the local NGO or other socio-cultural institutions and a government representative like Patwari or Lekhpal.
The Committees would perform the functions such as Monitoring the availability of food, distribution of foodgrains, see that the schemes are properly implemented and not misused and reporting to the concerned authorities in the State or to the NHRC.
The Committees would also monitor the availability of foodgrains at the PDS, would see to it that it is not sold at higher prices than the government prescribed prices and collect data on the number of families living below poverty line in that particular area.
As far as distribution of foodgrain is concerned, the Committees would see that the distribution of foodgrain takes place without any black-marketing at Public Distribution System, would conduct surprise checks at Anganwari centers including having a look at the record of utilization of food under ICDS programme, see to it that adequate food godowns are available under a particular Panchayat or at Block level and would monitor that special cards to BPL families are issued so that they are assured of special subsidized food items under PDS.
These Committees would also have close contacts with household, especially BPL, SC/STs and other vulnerable groups. They would also lay emphasis on monitoring the schemes, particularly, those on poverty alleviation and employment generation. These Committees would ensure greater transparency in the implementation of existing schemes. The monitoring would include reporting of physical and financial performance. The Committee would be empowered to have a copy of the periodic progress reports, audit and utilization certificates of various schemes and programmes implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development and Department of Women and Child Development.
The Commission has issued the guidelines on the constitution and functioning of the committees to all the State governments and the Central Ministries.
The Commission hopes that if implemented in letter and spirit, these Committees, which will act as Watch Committees, would pave the way for a hunger free India.
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