Media Mates: MANAGEMENT COMPASS: Flashback

Defining events of the month gone by

Food Security Bill Introduced
Soon after being forced to overturn its decision on multi-brand-retail FDI, the government has rolled out a new Food Security Bill. If cleared by Parliament, this will see 62.5% of the country’s population receive subsidised food - at `3/kg for rice, and `2/kg for wheat. Even as the government claims this is a pro-poor measure, critics have accused the ruling UPA of keeping the upcoming UP state elections in mind before taking the decision. The Agricultural Ministry is also said to be against the bill in its current form over concerns of difficulty in acquiring food for resupply. The new measures are expected to add `27,663 crore to India’s subsidy bill. Meanwhile, the government may try to re-introduce the retail bill in 2012.

Over 90 Dead in Kolkata Fire
Around 93 people were killed when a deadly fire raced through the AMRI Hospital in Kolkata. Reportedly caused by gas cylinders and waste that was kept in the hospital’s basement, the fire resulted in the deaths of several staff and patients in the ICU and other wards. According to reports, AMRI Hospital also lacked fire-fighting equipment and was functioning without clearance from the fire department. Relatives of those who died in the tragedy have blamed the hospital authorities for not calling the fire department or ordering an evacuation even after they were alerted to the presence of smoke. The toll would also have been higher had it not been for the initiative shown by residents of the nearby slums, who attached makeshift ladders in a bid to evacuate people. State governments across the nation have now ordered a thorough investigation into fire safety measures at hospitals.