Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'End this neocolonialism' that was published in Newsband

End this neocolonialism

India’s food security law may well hinge on the outcome of the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial meet in Bali in December. At the Bali Conference, it is likely the U.S. and (European Union) EU will push for a grand bargain: lesser import restrictions and open markets in developing countries for exemptions on procuring subsidised food grain. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signalled India’s readiness to strike this bargain during his recent visit to Washington.

In an election year, with the Food Security Act touted as a jewel in its crown, the United Progressive Alliance cannot afford to be complacent. To protect its food security law — and the promise of adequate nutrition for the poor it is supposed to deliver — the government must go into a diplomatic overdrive.

Many feel that more trade will solve all problems. Is this really true? Will the wealth generated from more business trickle down to the poor? One only needs to look at the growing divide between the rich and the poor in US and also parts of the EU to see that this is not true. Then why is India blindly following ‘this trade is good’ mantra or that ‘nuclear power at any cost’ mantra?

Seeking approval from WTO for feeding our people who suffer from malnutrition is like grossly violating sovereignty of India. India joining WTO is a mechanism that ensures profit for greedy corporates all over the world even if it means starving billions.

This is another instance of the US-EU dominated international institutions adopting policies that are detrimental to the interests of developing nations. Sometimes it is trade, sometimes environment and this time it’s food. If the masses need subsidy then it has to be offered; if we can produce more grains at cheaper cost then the imported ones then we should not import. In case of every issue, developing nations are bullied in the name of treaties and agreements.

India needs to act now. We have to ensure that the legitimate basic rights of our people are not blocked by agricultural lobbies of EU and US. India has to fight for including factors like the population of a country, the average area of cultivated land, the level of mechanization and technology input into agriculture, the number of farm workers per hectare, the number of households dependent on agriculture etc. while discussing the issue of subsidy.

Agriculture in EU and US are heavily subsidized, and they are sacred cows, even to legislators there. Unlike India, large areas of land in these countries are cultivated using mechanization and technology inputs, by few big farmers, for commercial use, unlike here, where majority does it

for sustenance. So, we should not be forced to allow dumping their surplus into our markets, on the dictates of WTO, or block food subsidy. We should exert diplomatic pressure with other developing countries to ensure food security to our hungry millions.

Why should we need West's permission to feed our poor? Is it that international obligations transcend the lines of the humanity? Of course bargaining and asking for exemptions are the routes suggested. But what are we bargaining? We are not bargaining for trade concession or for some export exemption, it's a matter of hunger and malnutrition. If this is not neocolonialism then what is?