Attacking “wrong policies of the Centre”, Sen said, “40% of Indians have a body mass index less than 18.5. Since the government calculates poverty based on nutritional wellbeing this means 48 crore Indians are underweight.”
“We hear so much about the economic growth of the country but sadly it has not changed the status of poverty. In 1991, then finance minister Manmohan Singh began reforms following World Bank pressure,” said public health activist Binayak Sen who asked, “What happened after 20 years? People are still struggling for food and shelter.”
Sen was speaking at St Xavier’s college annual fest, Malhar. Attacking “wrong policies of the Centre”, Sen said, “40% of Indians have a body mass index less than 18.5. Since the government calculates poverty based on nutritional wellbeing this means 48 crore Indians are underweight.”
The eminent pediatrician and Vice President of Peoples Union for Civic Liberties charged for sedition and war against the state by Chhattisgarh government has been released on bail by the Supreme Court.
Advocating the decentralisation of the public distribution system Sen opined, “The government claims PDS system is very good in Chhattisgarh. Yet the state faces Naxal problems as many interior areas lack education and health facilities. The government has neglected them for years.”
He also called the “Janani Suraksha Yojna” a fraudulent scheme.
According to him in healthcare centres simply do not have facilities for safe delivery or pre and ante-natal care. “PHCs feels simply doling out Rs1,400 per mother is enough. No wonder we have such high maternal and infant mortality.”
He also brought up the influence enjoyed by the corporate sector. “Instead of support, government’s policies seem geared to harming the public sector. While industrialists’ bodies meet the finance minister and get tax rebates, the common man has no such luxuries,” lamented Sen.
Urging students to work for society, Sen advised, “The media highlights many issues. Activists also work hard. But few people can’t change the system. Society must mobilise to bring change.”
Actor Anupam Kher who was present on the occasion told DNA that while he supports Anna Hazare and his stand he will not join him the fast. “This doesn’t mean that those who don’t join him are not supporters. We may join him later,” he pointed out. Calling the police’s pre-conditions for permitting the fast “strange” he said, “The Constitution has given us some fundamental rights. Fasting and gathering at a spot is not illegal.” Taking on the government for calling Anna’s fast a blackmail tactic he asked, “if that is true then will they call the whole country blackmailers?”
He warned the police from resorting to a crackdown like the one on Baba Ramdev’s protest. “This time people will set the agenda not the police.”
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