FOOD : THE MOST BASIC

NEED

As per the Supreme Court of India

“Basic needs of man have traditionally been accepted to the three - food, clothing and shelter. 

The right to life is guaranteed in any civilized society.

That would take within its sweep the right to food, the right to clothing, the right to decent environment and a reasonable accommodation to live in.”

Shantistar Builders vs. Narayan Khimalal Totame, Civil Appeal No. 2598 of 1989, decided Jan. 31, 1990.  Supreme Court of India, at sec. 9.

Right to food in India

Indian Constitution of 1950

Article 47 articulates the right to food and its relationship to health:

“The state shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the

standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as

among its primary duties.”

Draft Right to Food Act (June 2009):

“It is imperative to create and enforce legal entitlements and

obligations to ensure that every person is assured physical,

economic and social access to adequate food with dignity as is

necessary to lead an active and healthy life.”

Some Government Programmes related to Food Security

PDS- The Public distribution System evolved as a system of management of

scarcity and for distribution of food grains at affordable prices.

ICDS –The Integrated Child Development Services to

improve the nutritional and health status of pre-school

children in the age-group of 0-6 years

NREGA- The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, a law with a

guarantee of 100 days of unskilled manual work per household per year

But still many people are suffering from hunger, or are malnourished

842 million in 1990/92832 million in 1995/97848 million in

2003/2005860 million in

2004/2006

923 million in 2007/2008

963 million in 2008/2009

Policy: Think again India

India has more people suffering from hunger –about 200 million –more than any other country in the world.

On the 2008 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 66out of 88 countries.

India has some of the highest rates of child malnutrition and mortality in the world.

India’s rice yields are less than half those of China and have increased little over the last decade.

Agriculture now accounts for 84% of total water use in India

source: www.usaid.gov

Where are the flaws????

Are these measures enough??

Challenges Encountered

Is our Public distribution system effective enough. If not what are the ways to make it effective????????

The NREGS an intentional win- win situation is turned down to a new way of corruption??????

The ICDS (a premier scheme against food insecurity) is not even able to use the funds allocated it . Where are we heading to????????

Can India win the battle against hunger??