|
Delayed Monsoon may hit Congress prospects |
 |
The delay in the monsoon in several parts of the country may affect not only the country’s economic recovery, but also the Congress prospects in the Assembly elections to be held later this year. In large parts of the country, there is the fear of drought. Manipur has already declared the state drought-hit.
The Met office said on June 24 that the monsoon in large parts of the country is three weeks late and the country is likely to get below normal rainfall for the first time in four years. The situation is worse in the north western region, which includes Punjab and Haryana, often described as the country’s granaries.
In June, the rainfall was fifty per cent less than normal. Over the whole monsoon period, the rainfall is likely to be 93 per cent of the normal.
Sonia Gandhi wants food security
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to enact a law to ensure food security for the poor. She has also given him a draft of the legislation. In her first letter dated June 12 to Dr. Manmohan Singh after his re-election, she said: ‘‘One of the most important commitments made by our party in the Lok Sabha election manifesto relates to the enactment of a National Food Security Act to ensure food security to the poor and vulnerable sections of society. I am sending a copy of the draft legislation for your consideration.”
The draft provides for making freedom from hunger and malnutrition as a fundamental right.
|
