Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi(SM)
 
Udupi, Aug 4: Centre for Industrial Trade Union (CITU) staged a protest against the government at the taluk office on Thursday August 2, blocking the road for more than 10 minutes and courting arrest.

They said that 7.7 crore ton of food grains are produced in India per year, out of which only 5 crore ton is required for the entire country's population, yet, the people suffer because of shortage of food grains. "The government is not utilizing food grains efficiently and in the right way," they said.

"Another sad part is that our government spends more money on storage of grains than on production. Still, the actual wastage is much above the acceptable level," they said.

The BPL and APL card system itself is unscientific and the government is cheating the people, they alleged.

"Food grains should be provided on an equal basis. Universal pattern of grain distribution should be followed," they said.

They also demanded rice at Rs 3 and wheat up to 35 kg per month. "For this, the government has to spend only Rs 35- 40 crore per year which will be less than the amount spent on corporates," they said.

Every year the government provides Rs 5 lac crore tax incentive to corporates. Such incentives should be extended to the poor too, they said, adding that government should take measures to improve the condition of the poor and labour class.