The New Nation - Internet Edition

THERE was a time before the independence of Bangladesh when essential food items such as rice, wheat, salt and cooking oil could be obtained by the non-affluent sections of the people through a rationing system. Every ration card holder used to be supplied with a limited quantity of these essentials at prices well below market prices. The ration cards were allotted on the basis of need and the purchasing power of its holder. Affluent persons usually did not get ration cards or did not ask for the same. It was not that there was no corruption in the system. Nonetheless, the rationing system proved to be useful in distributing essential foodstuffs to a large number of people in the population. In this sense, it ideally met the subsistence requirements of a large number of people of modest means. The rationing system was continued after the independence of the country. But its operation was progressively reduced and then phased out.

For some years, bumper production of foodgrains within the country and cheap imports of foodgrains and cooking oil, plus competition among food importers and sellers, meant that prices of the main essential food items remained within the purchasing capacities of people. But in recent years, this scenario of cheap food availability has been changing. This year, a full blown crisis of foodgrains is being felt from major setbacks of local production of food grains and the unusual high prices of imported edibles. The same applies to edible oil, pulses and spices. In these circumstances, the need is acutely felt to hedge the poor from the high food prices by supplying food to them at prices they can afford. Doing of this is also an imperative to prevent discontentment on this score from taking serious proportions.

Thus, different quarters have started suggesting reintroduction of the rationing system. They point out that if this system existed, then it could be well utilised in the present situation to extend affordable foods to the ones who are now very acutely in need of such supports to be able to buy their foods. For example, there are about 8 million ration card holders in neighbouring West Bengal. This has meant that notwithstanding ups and downs in the regular food markets, the non-affluent families there are getting their needs for basic subsistence well supplied at prices they can pay. The Bangladesh government may set up a similar countrywide system at the fastest. The operators of garment industries have made a good suggestion to the government recently. They have requested the government to start issuing of ration cards to garments industry workers immediately. There are about 1.5 million of them. If the government brings them under the rationing system, then it may be expected that on buying essential foods at cheaper prices, their present embittered mood would go and they would see the point of doing their work peacefully. A comprehensive rationing system may be initiated through a rapid action plan.