Now that the Food Security Bill has been passed, here are a few things honest, hard-working and more importantly, tax-paying citizens of India need to start doing. But before that, let me outline a few ways in which the FSB will impact us.
Rice, Wheat and some cereals will be cheaper. But not for you, because whatever available grain is there in this country, will go to the 67% of the country that you do not fall into. Now with the grains so cheap, there will be wastage and over consumption by those who get them. We don't have a problem with a little over consumption, I mean, as long as somebody's gob is getting stuffed (Not that it will be doing them any good, because they will still be malnourished from lack of most essential nutrients). But the wastage through an acknowledged under-prepared public distribution system means that whatever is produced in the country will go to 67%. The other 33% will have to find their own grub from elsewhere. Veggies will probably become a thing of the past (or again, too expensive), as farmers will be assured that their grains will be bought. Fruits will probably become so rare that your kid's books will have A for Anaaj (grain) instead of A for Apple. So basically, everything will become damn expensive, inflation will go crazy, the rupee exchange rate will go nuts, and whatever money you have saved for a rainy day will be worth peanuts. Well not actually, because peanuts will also be quite expensive.
There is a silver lining if you really want to see it though. Pregnant women and children under the age of 14 will get free meals. (And you thought we had a population problem?) So the kid might not have fancy stuff or education (too expensive already) or potatoes, but he will have a cereal breakfast, dry roti/bread for lunch and plain rice for dinner.
So how do you gear up for this?
1. I just mentioned the rainy day right?...well its here, or will be within the next 5 years, so start saving prudently. Buy gold. Buy land. Forget the fixed deposits and stocks. If you have the means, invest abroad (any country except Zimbabwe will do)
2. Take pictures of every vegetable you eat. You can show them to your kids so that they can be sure to grab one in case they ever come across one.
3. Save the seeds of any fruit you eat. Plant them wherever you can.
4. Quit your job. Fudging tax returns is too difficult and limited in scope for a salaried person. Do something really productive in the free time. Like growing fruits, vegetables and herbs at home. Convert a bedroom into a greenhouse, you won't need a bed because you will be losing sleep over it all anyways.
5. Start a business and pay yourself a salary that is within the zero tax bracket. Your business may fail due to the stagnating economy, but so will the company you work for currently, same difference. What? Your company is not Indian? Well they might be getting the hell out of here soon so start buttering up that on-site manager for relocation....and start working on a business plan anyway. What? you work for the government? Start networking to get in-touch with government employees in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) who can steal some grains for you....and drop in a mail to me when you do. I'll need some of that.
6. Don't let your kids learn too much. High school should be about enough really. After all, the three highest paying professions in India don't require a degree. Cricketer, Actor or Politician (in decreasing level of skill required) is what your kids should aspire to if they want to stay in the 33%. The last one is most recommended as everything is free for them anyways and generational continuity is almost assured.
Well, I am sure there are plenty more things we can do now that the 'Food' is secure, but you know what, if everyone starts doing these half a dozen things, we're going belly up as a country anyways. So it doesn't really matter what you do does it!?
Finally, I guess I don't have to emphasize the fact that I am going a bit of over the top in this doomsday prophesying, but things aren't really going to be much better than this. I mean I bought 3 smallish apples for 100 bucks today, and they were the cheapest ones in the store. I don't think I will be buying them apples anytime soon.