Page 7 - 31JAN2020E4

/TEHELKA @TEHELKA

passed by members of political put food on our table reminds incentives — like a discount to
parties. Members of Parliament one of the terrible fate of the those who choose to order small
are not apolitical. ‘tiger widows’ of the Sunder- portions more than once if they
The protests for the rescission bans, who lose their fishermen need it rather than one large
of CAA have to be complement- husbands to tiger attacks. portion that might be wasted
ed by a strong political push- Yet, the amount of food — are likely to be more effec-
back by a strong Opposition. The wasted in certain developed tive when it comes to curbing
refrain by some TV channels countries, like the United King- food wastage. There is another
that ‘a people’s movement’ has dom and the United States of form of food wastage that needs
been hijacked by certain political America, continues to be colos- to be considered. In this age
parties and leaders is but a vain sal. In India, too, large quantities of Photoshop where surface
bid to de-legitimise the protests of food go to waste in hotels and beauty seems to matter more
led by students, civil society restaurants, and at festivals and than inner qualities, tonnes of
activists and women. weddings. As such, it is hearten- produce with even the slight-
G DAVID MILTON ing that the Food Safety and est imperfections are rejected
Standards Authority of India has by both large conglomerates
The unscrupulous decisions recently begun work on a draft that run retail chains as well as
taken by the Bharatiya Janata policy on food wastage. But this individual buyers.
Party-led government at the is not enough. All restaurants It must be established
Centre are chipping away at the should introduce a token fine through social media campaigns
democratic and secular edifices for wasting food in order to and other awareness pro-
of the country at an alarming spread awareness about all the grammes that such imperfec-
rate. Far from bringing about people who go hungry every day. tions occur in nature and do not
the promised “achchhe din” or a The electronic and print media affect the quality of produce in
digital revolution, it seems that should also contribute to such a any way. Perhaps a shop selling
all the new policies being an- campaign. such refused, but nutritious, pro-
nounced are triggering unem- JAHAR SAHA duce at a cheaper rate can curb
ployment and worsening the food wastage as well as help
economic crisis. The new surge It is a pity that enormous those who cannot afford to buy
in retail inflation cut a sorry amounts of food go to waste eve- such items like fruit otherwise.
figure of 7.35 per cent last month. ry day. Along with raising aware- RIMA ROY
It is even more disturbing to ness about the implications of
know that this inflation rate is this for the many unfortunates Stay cautious while
running way beyond the toler- who do not get even one square making remarks
ance limit set by the Reserve meal a day, it is important to One is hardly surprised to hear
Bank of India’s monetary policy come up with ways to redistrib- regressive comments from
committee. This problem must ute excess food. There are NGOs political leaders anymore.
be addressed immediately. that collect such food and give it Yet it is disappointing when
AM LUKHMAN to the hungry. Both individuals educated politicians do not
and restaurants should keep in speak responsibly. The Congress
Restaurants shall introduce touch with them to make sure leader, Shashi Tharoor, recently
token fine for wasting food that no food goes to waste. criticized Arvind Kejriwal by
With reference to the report “Waste not, comparing him to a ‘eunuch’ and
by providing for the needy” by Neetole Mitra SHREYA SARKAR
(August 1, 2015) the young, Leftist leader, Kanhai-
There is a great lesson regarding It is good that India is consider- ya Kumar, said that people who
the importance of reducing the ing a policy to curb food wastage. were not yet agitating should
wastage of food. The measures But given the authoritarian bent wear bangles and sit at home.
undertaken by restaurants of the current dispensation, These comments are de-
across the world — some this policy should not become meaning and must be con-
eateries in Taiwan and Japan an instrument to control what demned. Political leaders are
impose penalties on customers people eat. Awareness needs to supposed to inspire the masses.
who waste food — to curb this be spread about the food crisis Such remarks from popular
menace are inspiring. In fact, the in the country owing to climate figures could have a significant
author’s reference to the hard change and food price inflation. adverse impact on the mindset
work put in by fishermen who Pricing at restaurants and of their supporters.
fight against harsh conditions to portion control, along with ANINDITA GANGULY

7