Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, May 25: "If privatization is the panacea for all the ills, why do we need elections? What is the relevance of people's representatives?" questioned renowned writer Baragur Ramachandrappa. He was speaking at a seminar organized here by the Committee against Akshara Dasoha Scheme on Sunday May 24, against the privatization of the hot meals programme by handing over the food preparation and supply thereof to the school children, to International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and Adamya Chetan organizations.
"The aim of the scheme is to create a feeling that every one is equal thereby achieving social harmony. But, the government has thrown to winds the rules they themelves created," he complained. Ramachandrappa also alleged that the ISKCON, by publicizing the hot meals programme, has been collecting crores of rupees as donations from foreigners. It is misuse and encash the hunger of the children," he charged.
Senior lawyer Prof Ravivarma Kumar expressed the view that privatization of the scheme is nothing but 'Brahminization' being carried out in the name of 'Akshara Dasoha' scheme. He accused both ISKCON and Adamya Chetan organizations, of enforcing their own food habits on the children, by depriving them of items like garlic, onion, eggs etc., while serving food.
Primary School Teachers Assocaition president Basavaraj Gurikar said, the Association supports the anti-privatization initiatives. Akshara Dasoha Employees Association president S Varalakshmi in her address said that the women workers are being exploited under the banner of this scheme. She said that a huge rally would be taken out in the city on Monday May 25 to register the opposition of the concerned to privatization.
Various other leaders too addressed the conference.
Former minister B T Lalita Nayak warned that ISKCON will be mobbed and those inside the premises would be driven out, if the government does not withdraw its policy of privatizing supply of hot meals to school children.