National Human Rights Commission recommends a national policy

Ravi S Singh
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 11

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to discuss has recommended to the Centre a policy for the urban poor and migrants on the lines of the Union government’s flagship Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in view of much-needed salutary measures post-Covid pandemic.

In fact, this was the suggestion thrown up at a meeting convened by the Commission of stakeholders to discuss on the status of the right to food and other issues in the face of challenges in the wake of the pandemic.

The meeting was presided over by the Commission’s Secretary Rajiv Jain, and attended by its senior functionaries, representatives of Union Ministries and Departments, experts, among others.

The meeting discussed sub-themes including the status of nutrition of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children and the “One Nation One Ration Card Scheme”.

The meeting stressed on States to monitor data on transferring of food grains to all the vulnerable sections, including the SC/ST; it pitched for strengthening, expanding the scope of ICDS and extending the mid-day meal scheme to the students up to XII standard from the existing VIII standard.

Measures to popularise the benefits of breastfeeding was underlined.

Besides wheat and rice, invigorating of diet through the supply of pulses, millets and edible oil in diets.

A case was made to regulate junk food, including labelling of high sugar and salt contents in them.

Inclusion of all children and not just the firstborn for the benefits under PMGKY was another recommendation.

While hailing the One Ration One Card scheme, the meeting expressed reservation on the insistence of Aadhar card linkage with the ration card.

Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution’s Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said that as per the 2011 census, 81.3 crore, which constitutes the bottom of 67% of the population as per the National Food Security Act, 2013, has been covered.

“For about two crores remaining population, States need to chip in,” Pandey said at the inaugural session.