Karnataka should ramp up production of millets like ragi: Union Food Secretary
New Delhi, Jan 8: Karnataka, being a large producer of ragi, should ramp up production of millets and also meet the requirement of other states, Union Food Secretary Sudhanshu Pandey said on Saturday in a meeting with state officials.
Pandey, in the meeting with the state chief secretary and other officials, said the Karnataka government should also tie up with the Indian Institute of Millets in Hyderabad for increased market penetration of millet products through startups.
"The Food Secretary further informed that the requirement of millets of other states can also be met by Karnataka with the Centre bearing all the handling and transportation costs," an official statement said.
The state should ramp up millets output as 2023 has been declared as the International year of Millets, he added.
The Union Food Secretary also suggested the state government to procure fortified rice locally and undertake fortification of rice at milling stage itself.
He said FRK (fortified rice kernels) units be set up to achieve the long-term objective of 100 per cent fortified rice for aspirational and heavy burdened districts.
Further, Pandey asked the state government to rope in its health department to monitor health development of children to get benefits under the Integrated Child Development Scheme and Midday Meal Scheme under which fortified rice distribution is undertaken.
This apart, Pandey said the central government has already approved procurement of local varieties of paddy in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada for self-consumption by the state.
On the state's request to release advance subsidy, the Union Food Secretary asked the Karnataka government to submit their provisional expenditure before commencement of procurement operations based on which advances can be released.
The state government suggested having one unified software for procurement operations to which Pandey said the same is under consideration.
With Karnataka being one of the largest producers of sugar, Pandey suggested that the ethanol production and blending be encouraged as the state is one of the eight identified states for introduction of 100 ethanol bunks in metros.
He also informed that 'One Nation One Ration Card' for migrant labourers, coffee plantation workers and other settlement workers engaged in construction activities can be actively taken up by the state government for real benefit of the poor.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
