"It's Election Time": Supreme Court Pulls Up Centre On Starvation Deaths
NDTV
The Supreme Court asked the centre to formulate a national model scheme for community kitchens, in consultation with states and other stakeholders, that can include extending additional logistics, resources and food grains.
The Supreme Court has asked the centre to furnish the latest data on the number of people who died due to starvation in the country and frame a national model scheme to combat hunger.
During a hearing today, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana pulled up the centre for relying on a 2015-2016 report on starvation deaths. "Are you saying there are no starvation deaths in the country except for one? Can we depend on that statement?"
"With states governments not reporting any starvation death, is it to be understood there is no starvation death in the country? Government of India should give us data on starvation deaths, latest information. Ask your officer to give us information," the court told Attorney General KK Venugopal.
The bench said the governments are announcing so many welfare schemes ahead of assembly elections scheduled for next month in five states, and a policy for community kitchens will make the centre popular. "It's election time. If you frame the policy and give additional food grains, then states will want to implement the cooked food policy".
