Grow coconuts, not tomatoes

Cheap rice will insulate chief minister Siddaramaiah from criticism in the short term, enhance his popularity and give him the freedom to relax and savour power which he has got after an agonizing wait. The irony is that Siddaramaiah now has done exactly the opposite of what he and his friends in the JanataParivar had preached in the past, standing on a high socialist pedestal.
"I believe in growing kalpavruksha (coconut) and not tomatoes,'' socialist leader and former chief minister J H Patel had said when he was the chief minister. Then, Siddaramaiah was his deputy. What Patel meant was he believed in long term solutions and not those of instant gratification.
Through cheap rice scheme, Siddaramaiah has preferred tomatoes over coconut.
While the rice is set to boil, experts are fiercely arguing in favour and against the proposal. But not many disagree that the longevity of the scheme is a suspect. The issue is not about economics or perceived problems like labour shortage, but its short shelf life and 'little' impact on the lives of people in the long run.
Feeding the incapable such as beggars, the diseased, the disabled and the aged is the duty of the state, but surely not those who can earn. Does Karnataka, a progressive state in the country with per capita income of Rs 87,359 (current prices), have 66 per cent of its population starving? Malnourishment is an issue, but cheap rice is for subsistence and not intended at enhancing the nutritional value of people. If it is about nutrition, then there are surely better cereals than rice. Moreover, there are several other programmes intended at nutrition.
The cultural ethos of the state does not prescribe for free or subsidized things. The words of Basavanna, the 12th century social reformer - Kaayakave Kailasa (work is worship) - can be a guiding light for administrators. Instead of instant gratification and cheap politics,
Sustainable initiatives like creation of jobs, incentivizing agriculture, better health and education facilities will go a long way in helping the poor.