Prime Minister Assured to Incorporate Food Sovereignty as Fundamental Right in Upcoming Constitution

16 October 2009

On the occasion of the 29th World Food Day, a Seminar on “Situation of Right to Food in Nepal and State’s Obligations” was organised by National Network on Right to Food, Nepal (RtFN). The speakers of the seminar discussed the present situation of right to food in Nepal and hailed the importance for ensuring  Food Sovereignty and right to food in the new constitution.

Addressing the programme as the Chief Guest, Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal said that, his government is committed to incorporate food sovereignty as fundamental right of the people in the new constitution of Nepal.

Mr. Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives also expressed the need of reforming the agricultural policy to solve the problem of food crisis in Nepal.

Similarly, Mr. Gauri Pradhan, Member of National Human Right Commission, Nepal  stated that, unless we ensure the right to food, as it is the primary and fundamental right of people, the human right cannot be ensured.

Mr. Jagadish Bdr. Singh Yadav, representative of the survivors of the violation of right to food said that, the unequal treaties between Nepal and India are the main reason of violation of right to food in Nepal. He also added that despite the struggles by the victims and the voices raised by youths, peasant and civil society, the government is turning its deaf ear to the problem. He warned the government that “if we have to come to streets with nation wide protest rallies to awake the Government, we are ready for this, too”.

Presenting a working paper on “Situation of Right to Food and State Obligations” Mr. Prem Dangal, Secretary General of ANPFa, pointed out the meagre condition of right to food in Nepal and concluded that agrarian reform, peasant right and right to food  can only be ensured by constitutionalising the food sovereignty as the right step for the solution of increasing problem of food scarcity.

Another speaker Ms. Sharmila Karki, General Secretary of NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), mentioned that within the marginalised, ethnic and Dalit groups, women are further marginalised and are the first victims of food scarcity due to deep rooted discriminatory practices in our societies.

Earlier Ms. Basudha Gurung highlighted the major activities of Right to Food Network, Nepal in the programme.

The programme was chaired by Dr. Sarba Raj Khadka , Director of Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN). Members from different organisations of the Network including All Nepal Peasant’s Federation (ANPFa), South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), Federation of Community Forest Users – Nepal (FECOFUN), Action Aid and survivors of the violation of right to food participated the programme.

Prime Minister Assured to Incorporate Food Sovereignty as Fundamental Right in Upcoming Constitution  Friday, 16 October 2009On the occasion of the 29th World Food Day, a Seminar on “Situation of Right to Food in Nepal and State’s Obligations” was organised by National Network on Right to Food, Nepal (RtFN). The speakers of the seminar discussed the present situation of right to food in Nepal and hailed the importance for ensuring  Food Sovereignty and right to food in the new constitution. Addressing the programme as the Chief Guest, Prime Minister Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal said that, his government is committed to incorporate food sovereignty as fundamental right of the people in the new constitution of Nepal.

Mr. Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives also expressed the need of reforming the agricultural policy to solve the problem of food crisis in Nepal.

Similarly, Mr. Gauri Pradhan, Member of National Human Right Commission, Nepal  stated that, unless we ensure the right to food, as it is the primary and fundamental right of people, the human right cannot be ensured.

Mr. Jagadish Bdr. Singh Yadav, representative of the survivors of the violation of right to food said that, the unequal treaties between Nepal and India are the main reason of violation of right to food in Nepal. He also added that despite the struggles by the victims and the voices raised by youths, peasant and civil society, the government is turning its deaf ear to the problem. He warned the government that “if we have to come to streets with nation wide protest rallies to awake the Government, we are ready for this, too”.

Presenting a working paper on “Situation of Right to Food and State Obligations” Mr. Prem Dangal, Secretary General of ANPFa, pointed out the meagre condition of right to food in Nepal and concluded that agrarian reform, peasant right and right to food  can only be ensured by constitutionalising the food sovereignty as the right step for the solution of increasing problem of food scarcity.

Another speaker Ms. Sharmila Karki, General Secretary of NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), mentioned that within the marginalised, ethnic and Dalit groups, women are further marginalised and are the first victims of food scarcity due to deep rooted discriminatory practices in our societies. Earlier Ms. Basudha Gurung highlighted the major activities of Right to Food Network, Nepal in the programme.

The programme was chaired by Dr. Sarba Raj Khadka , Director of Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN). Members from different organisations of the Network including All Nepal Peasant’s Federation (ANPFa), South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), Federation of Community Forest Users – Nepal (FECOFUN), Action Aid and survivors of the violation of right to food participated the programme.