Chintan Shivir: Food Ministry’s outing has farm law supporter, anti-reservation activist on guest list
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, April 26: Over 50 top officials of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution are heading for Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) to be held in a Faridabad resort for two days, between April 27-28. Motivational speaker and activist against caste-based reservation Shiv Khera is among others who will hold sessions for the officials.
Sources said that the officials ranging from the level of director and above, including secretary of the Ministry, will stay together for the brainstorming session. The stated agenda for the session is challenges posed by Climate Change, Nutrition, Food Security for India and also the world.
“The officials will also deliberate on agenda for India@2047 when the country will commemorate 100 years of independence, and hammer out the actionable agenda for the ministry, which could be part for the long-term vision of the country,” said a senior official.
Agriculture expert Ashok Gulati, who was vocal about agrarian reforms and the farm laws, which were withdrawn with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement on television, will lead the outside domain experts to guide the brainstorming among the officials. “Motivational speaker Shiv Khera will also hold the session with the officials,” added the official. Khera is an author of the book, You Can Win. He also had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections.
“The Ministry has also taken part in deliberations on climate change, food security and nutrition in the ongoing G20 meetings of subgroups. All the officials and experts will stay put in a resort on the outskirt for two days to also build a team spirit. Besides, with aims to build the bond of team spirit, all the participants will board a bus and together go to Faridabad,” stated the sources.
Chintan Shivir is being held by some of the Ministries on the directions of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). Home Ministry has already held such a Chintan Shivir in the North Block. NITI Aayog will also be holding such an exercise.
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has the principal mandate to implement the National Food Security Act, which covers two-third population of the country with free foodgrains. Also, the Ministry is a nodal agency for the Nutrition Mission, while also carrying out the world’s largest foodgrains procurement exercise through Food Corporation of India (FCI).
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