As we celebrate our 78th Independence day, we need to look back and see how far we have reached, but also look ahead to our goal of Viksit Bharat@2047. The first and foremost duty of any government is ensuring food security for the people. It's as important as ensuring border security. It was Lal Bahadur Shastri who gave us the slogan, Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan'. Faced with droughts in the mid-1960s, India did not have enough foreign exchange to buy food from the global markets. We needed at least 10 million tonnes (MT) to avert mass starvation deaths. The US came to India's rescue at the time by offering 10 MT of wheat under Public Law 480 (food aid) against rupee payment, which was like a grant, as the rupee had no standing in the global markets. Every 15 minutes, a ship was coming to India with food aid, which was distributed through the PDS (public distribution system). India was considered a 'ship to mouth' economy, and many had given up hope of the country surviving as the population was booming and food supplies were lagging far behind.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Screaming Success
Now Funny, Now Scary, This Genre Has Come Of Age In Hindi Cinema, Pulling In Audiences And Monster Returns At The Box Office
KING OF FRUITS
Sopan Joshi's Mangifera indica: A Biography of the Mango is an immersive, behind-the-scenes look at the world's most delicious fruit
HAVING THE LAST WORD
Writer, politician and wordsmith Shashi Tharoor is out with a book of essays celebrating the magical world of words
Indian Encore
The legendary tenor Plácido Domingo will be in Mumbai with the opera competition Operalia, which makes its debut in India
Charismatic Cat
Peppered with stunning illustrations, Caracal: An Intimate History of a Mysterious Cat is a deeply moving and meticulously researched account of the elusive felid
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
After a pandemic-induced hiatus, actor Sharvari is riding high with several back-to-back releases-from Munjya to Maharaj and Vedaa
Trial by Fire
Hounded by allegations of conflict of interest in the Adani probe and rising discontent among her own staff, the Sebi chief has much to answer for-and disclose
WE WILL ROCK YOU
India's winter concert season is looking great, with leading international stars and bands set to captivate audiences
PK WALKS THE BIG POLL TALK
Prashant Kishor, the ace of the backroom, joins the battle for Bihar with lofty ambitions. Can his armoury of new ideas upset the old equations?
LORD of the ROLES
VIKKANT MASSEY is nothing if not versatile, straddling the worlds of independent and commercial cinema with élan