Abstract
We know that India still after 75 years of Independence is facing extreme challenges to provide and secure the necessities of life. One of the basic necessities of life is to have a proper food security in order to survive. It’s the duty of the government to provide and protect the citizen’s basic necessities of life, so we in our research paper will be providing the historical significance of the failure of all the governments after Independence till now to provide proper food security despite of trying to implement different policies .This research paper will accurately define the meaning of the term ‘food security’ which will be followed by a comparison of the existing status of different countries with India. Through conducting a public survey we intend to understand people’s views regarding the existing challenges of food security and their opinionated solutions to overcome these problems and make India better off from the existing scenarios
As researchers our first step is to identify and gather all kinds of information about the facts and features on this topic. We have studied and analysed the history of food security in our country and what are the sources or under what circumstances food security and hunger became such a worrying and concerned issue in our country. We have read about what established economists and other scholars had to say about this topic and got to know about their viewpoints keeping in mind that highly educated and intellectual minds can bring any solution to resolve this issue. We have identified what are the actual reasons or the genuine drawbacks that are still holding this country back and obstructing it from attaining a much stronger or a much secured position in “food security” at the present time. We have also reviewed and interpreted the current policies and measures taken by the present and previous governments and also discussed the criticisms and complications of those.
We have read, understood and analysed the data available on the public domain about food security. The information is gathered from the government data spheres followed by a public survey that we have conducted through virtual mode and from other authenticated sources. We know that statistics and data are the most important elements that determine the status of a particular scenario, whether the situation is improving or deteriorating.
Lastly we have tried our best to provide a solution to this issue after learning and understanding this topic. Solutions like the possibilities of increasing agricultural productivity by the government providing support to farmers by improving irrigation systems, promoting the use of advanced technologies, and providing credit at reasonable interest rates to enable them to increase their crop yield are examples of ways of how we think we can fight with this obstacle. Improving distribution systems by the government establishing a robust supply chain management system to ensure that food reaches every part of the country including investing in storage facilities and transport infrastructure to reduce food wastage are other examples of initiatives that we think can resolve the challenge of food security. We have analyzed the policies that are currently into force and have also suggested the modifications and changes required to make it more efficient in terms of food security.
Keywords
Food Security, Government Rules and Schemes, Necessities, Hunger , Equality, Social Impact, Poverty
Introduction
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations predicted that more than 800 million people will be undernourished in 2014. This is based on dietary energy consumption. Another indication of malnutrition is the almost 2 billion people who experience vitamin deficiencies. Each year, more than 3 million children under the age of five die from malnutrition. Frequent food shortages and price spikes in the late 20th and early 21st centuries have highlighted the necessity to comprehend their nutritional effects on underprivileged and food insecure individuals. According to a 2021 analysis of 1.27 million kids from 44 low- and middle-income countries, early exposure to food inflation is linked to higher chances of short-term illness (LMICs).Given the prevailing inequalities, food inflation further increases the hazards faced by rural children from low-income, landless households. Our research shows the need of putting policies in place to improve maternal and young child nutrition, as well as the importance of lowering food prices and making nutrient-dense foods available for a low or affordable price. Food security is defined as “all people, at all times, having physical, social, and economic access to adequate healthful food that satisfies their dietary requirements and food choices for an active and healthy life,” by the Committee on Global Food Security of the United Nations. The effectiveness of adaptation policies depends on a number of variables and options, including how water and soil are allocated, new irrigation technologies, land use patterns, agricultural aspects and prospects in modern agriculture, food trade, post-harvest food processing, including proper storage, food prices, and safety measures that are urgently needed. Following the green revolution, the promotion of sustainable agricultural technologies, such as the high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, artificial manures for boosting soil fertility, and agricultural production-boosting drugs, is another element. The ability of a community, family, or person to be able to eat enough, in terms of both quality and quantity, as specified by international standards of calorie, vitamin, and protein intake, is referred to as food security.
The three elements are:
i-Food availability for the mass population in equal ratio.
ii-Access to sufficient food at an affordable price.
iii-Unable for Consumption/utilization of the food.
Utilization means that even if there is access and availability, people are unable to properly use or consume the food. Availability refers to the amount of production that should be sufficient for the current population. Access and Price refer to the Price of the Food at a Minimum Affordable Price so that Every Person Can Have Access to Food. This may be due to societal standards, health issues, unsafe food storage, nutritional deficiencies in the food, or the individual’s inability to profit sufficiently from the food’s nourishment due to poor health, bad hygiene, or poor water quality.
Analysis of the historical background of the problem regarding food security in India.
One of the most concerning issues in India has been the distribution of an equal amount of food to the greatest number of individuals in the community. A quarter of the world’s hungry people live in India, where the UNO estimates that there are close to 195 million undernourished people. Moreover, 43% of Indian children suffer from chronic undernutrition. The Bengal Famine, which occurred in 1943 under British colonial control and caused between 0.8 million and 3.8 million deaths from famine, can be used to trace the origins of, or to identify on a large scale, food security challenges. India has currently seen 14 famines throughout its history, with the Bengal Famine of 1943 ranking as one of the deadliest famines ever. Two consecutive droughts in the middle of the 1960s, an initial and focused drive to industrialize while ignoring agriculture, and reliance on food aid from other nations like the United States and China exposed India’s vulnerability to multiple shocks on the country’s food security position. India has been extensively damaged by drought. In India, there were 18 meteorological and 16 hydrological droughts between 1870 and 2018. The five worst hydrological droughts occurred in the years 1876, 1899, 1918, 1965, and 2000, whereas the most severe meteorological droughts happened in those same years. The 1899 drought, which was the worst drought India has ever recorded, can be divided into meteorological and hydrological categories. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the nation underwent a Green Revolution that helped it overcome productivity stagnation and dramatically increase food grain production. Despite its success, the Green Revolution is frequently criticized for its narrow focus on just two cereals—wheat and rice—its confinement to a small number of resource-rich regions in the northwestern and southern parts of the country that benefited mostly wealthy farmers, and for the excessive strain it placed on the ecology—particularly the soil and water—of these areas. The White Revolution, which was started by Operation Flood in the 1970s and 1980s, came after the Green Revolution. India is now the world’s largest producer of milk thanks to this national program, which has changed the nation’s liquid milk production and marketing. In India, Verghese Kurien has been referred to as the “Father of the White Revolution”. He is Amul’s founder. India’s largest self-sustaining industry and major source of rural employment, supplying one-third of all rural revenue, is dairy farming. It doubled the amount of milk available to each individual, quadrupled milk production in 30 years, and made India the largest producer of milk in the world. Hybrid processes for chicken have significantly increased recently in terms of egg and meat output, notably after 2000.Hybrid processes for chicken have significantly increased recently in terms of egg and meat output, notably after 2000.India currently has 195 million undernourished individuals, making it the largest country in the world. Over 47 million Indians, or 4 out of 10 children, are chronically malnourished or stunted and do not reach their full potential.
Analysis of the existing policies and statutes.
Programs and Efforts by the Government to Guarantee Food Security The aim for a major development includes affordable health care, dependable electricity, a stable environment, and access to food. Because of our development and acquisition of essential technological abilities, our resources have increased. We experience more emotions and have more opportunities as a result of development, which is a methodical process. Development takes time, and it is never acceptable for sustainable development to be interpreted as uncontrolled expansion. Finding a suitable solution is essential if we are to guarantee food security for everyone at all times. The Indian government has persistently pushed for food security, as was already said. Let’s look at the actual scenario right now and the outcomes of governmental efforts:
The Indian government’s buffer stocking strategy serves as insurance against a drop in output levels. It has developed into a significant component of food management policy in the wake of the Bengal Famine of 1943. The severe Orissa Famine of 1865–1867 gave birth to the idea of a food grain reserve for the first time. Under Lord Lytton, the Indian government also started its first Famine Insurance Fund. Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, the former food minister of India, focused on raising food grain production after the country achieved its independence since by 1955, the buffer stock of food grains had decreased to 0.92 million tonnes, which had caused a spike in grain prices.
Improving the Public Distribution System: During the Indo-China War and the Indo-Pak War, India faced acute food shortages. The Indian government established policies and initiatives to provide food to urban areas experiencing a food scarcity after the Green Revolution. Thereafter, this distribution method was extended to cover tribal areas and neighborhoods with high rates of poverty. The Central and State governments jointly managed the Public Distribution System (PDS). The Central Government was in responsibility of determining how much food grain should be bought, stored, and given to the State Government through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The State Government was in charge of determining who qualified for ration cards, how much grain should be distributed, and how much grain should be stored.
After June 1992, the PDS was revised and became the Revised Public Distribution System (RPDS), which was implemented in 1775 blocks across the country. In June 1997, RPDS adopted the moniker Targeted Public Distribution System. (TPDS). When the system was first created, it was initially designed for six crore underprivileged families. Under the TDPS model, the prices of food grains were fixed by the governments of the States or UTs. Initially estimated at 596.23 lakh families when the TPDS was established, the number of BPL families grew rapidly and eventually reached 652.03 lakh.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): Similar to a better TDPS model, Antyodaya Anna Yojana aims to lessen hunger and give BPL residents at least some level of food security. Almost 5% of India’s population sleeps without two meals each day, per an NSS poll. This is unquestionably the worst aspect of existence. In other words, AAY was created by our government for those who are “hungry” themselves. It was introduced to one million of the poorest families in December 2000. The government provided food grains through this program with significant subsidies, such as Rs 2 per kilogram of wheat and Rs 3 per kilogram of rice.
Mid-Day Meal Program (MDM): In 1925, the British government offered the Mid-Day Meal Program to the Madras Corporation. In 1930, Pondicherry was governed by the French. However, this project’s motto differs from the one currently used by the Indian government. Following independence, MDM gradually spread to various states, first in Tamilnadu, then in Kerala, and finally beyond. As a part of the National Primary School Nutrition Support Program, the Government of India has been running this initiative since 1995. There are over 12 million kids in the country who can access this service. The MDM’s primary goals are to: 1. Enhance children’s nutritional status, and 2. Promote regular school attendance.
MGNREGA: The luncheon program (MDM) benefited 8.41 million and 3.36 million primary school children, respectively, in 2009–2010. 3.2.5 Man is a proverbial saying that refers to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Program (MGNREGA). In addition to being exceedingly impoverished, a large portion of the population in India works as unskilled manual laborers. What can India do in this situation to maintain food security? They must first be given employment with a daily wage so they can pay their bills. In this situation, the government must provide more resources to support rural livelihoods that already exist. In this sense, the Indian government has put in place a number of obligatory labor programs that offer daily paid employment at minimum wage in government positions.
MGNREGA serves as an Article 21 aid element. For each household with an adult member seeking manual and unskilled labor during the financial year, MGNREGA promises 100 working days within a 5 km radius of the applicant’s domicile. The applicant is also eligible to unemployment compensation if an MGNREGA job application is not submitted within 15 days of the application date. MGNREGA is the law that upholds our Constitution’s Sections 21 of the Right to Live with Dignity, Part 48A of the Right to Preserve the Environment, and Section 41 of the Right to Work. Evidently, money is given to unemployed people in other nations in the form of conditional cash transfers (CCTs).
Yet, despite the fact that MGNREGA is a form of CCT, India was unable to offer CCT. Kapur and co. (2008). The World Bank has cited “MGNREGA” as a shining example of rural development, according to the Economic Times11. According to this statute, the central government is responsible for paying 75% and the state governments 25% of the total cost of materials and labor. This law protects rural communities’ economies while also guaranteeing jobs and enhancing food security in certain areas. Up to the last month of 2013, there were around 5 million households with employees, which resulted in 1575 working days for employees. The survey also reveals that there are numerous waterworks.
The 2013 National Food Security Act
In accordance with laws approved by the Parliament, the government published the National Food Security Act, 2013 on September 10, 2013, with the intention of ensuring that people have access to the quantity and quality of food they require to live honorable lives.
The Act effectively covers two-thirds of the population by allowing up to 75% of rural and up to 50% of urban residents to obtain subsidized foodgrains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). For rice, wheat, and coarse grains, the qualified individuals are allowed to purchase 5 kg of foodgrains per month at a discounted rate of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg. Currently existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families are the poorest of the poor.
The Legislation also stresses how crucial it is to give women and children access to dietary assistance.
Pregnant women and nursing mothers are also entitled to maternity benefits worth at least Rs. 6,000 in addition to getting meals throughout their pregnancy and for six months after giving birth. Children have a right to wholesome meals that adhere to established dietary criteria up until the age of 14. The clients will get a food security payment if the necessary foodgrains or meals are not provided. The Act also outlines the construction requirements for District and State-level grievance redressal mechanisms.
The Act also outlines procedures for ensuring accountability and openness.
The intention behind making NFS is no doubt a very forward minded step but we need to see whether the implementation of the act is being done in the right way or not.
Comparison of present status & policies with developed countries
Contrasted with the United Kingdom
Notwithstanding the UK’s agricultural sector’s relative success, a number of regional and international problems have an impact on the cost and quality of food for UK consumers. This became evident in 2008 during the rise in food prices around the world.
Food and soft drinks manufacturing is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK and the fourth largest in the world. Around 500,000 people are employed in farming and fishing, which contributes 6.8% of the UK’s gross value added ($107 billion), and over 400,000 are employed in the food industry supply chain. 48% of all food consumed in the UK is imported, and this percentage is rising. This shows that food production in the nation is not sufficient.
As a result, the UK, a nation that trades in food, depends on both imports and a strong agricultural industry to feed its population and support economic growth. A supply network that can adapt to changes in the economy and environment lies beneath the shelves that appear to be stocked full in supermarkets. Insufficient or excessive rain might hinder harvests. Developing exotic diseases like African swine fever and bluetongue pose a threat to the livestock industry’s survival. 46% of the food consumed in the UK in 2020 was imported, and 28% of those imports came from the EU. A total of 4% of the food consumed in the UK was produced in Africa, Asia, North and South America, respectively. In December 2021, the government published the UK Food Security Report.
The supply system had purportedly been “stress-tested,” identifying flaws while also showcasing “the robustness and flexibility of the UK’s food supply.” In March 2022, a number of UK-based agricultural players criticized the UK government’s “blasé” response to the food crisis situation in Ukraine, pointing out that, despite local production, rising global food prices are anticipated to have an effect on food supply. The government unveiled a strategy on June 13, 2022, in an effort to comprehend the UK’s food security. This response to the government-commissioned National Food Plan was initially intended to be a White Paper. It highlighted a variety of actions the government has taken or intends to take in reaction to the situation in Ukraine.
Among these were initiatives to help farmers and food producers manage growing input costs, including a package on fertilizers. When there are shortages of ingredients, help businesses manage the substitution of vegetable oil, obtain access to more diverse supply chains, and create plans with business to strengthen the resilience of crucial inputs like carbon dioxide (CO2) and fertilizer. Hence, the main difference between India and England is that the former is an agricultural nation. Just 18.63 million hectares of land are used for cultivation in the UK, compared to 159.7 million hectares or 53% of the land in India. Because India’s economy is more diversified than the UK’s, it is common for the UK to import food from India.
Although, from a global viewpoint, India has surpassed the UK in terms of total economic growth.
Food Security Situation in the United States-
118.5 million American families, or 89.8% of all families, had enough food in 2021.
Similar to, or barely different from, 89.5 percent in 2020.
Food insecure households
Food insecurity affected 10.2% (13.5 million) of US families at some point in 2021.
Virtually unchanged from 10.5 percent in 2020.
Food security in low sense—These food-insecure households used a variety of coping strategies, such as eating less varied diets, taking part in Federal food assistance programs, or obtaining food from local food pantries, to obtain enough food to prevent significantly disrupting their eating patterns or reducing food intake.
8.4 million households in the United States, or 6.4%, experienced poor food security in 2021.
Extremely low food security—In these food-insecure homes, one or more members’ regular eating habits were interrupted, and food intake was occasionally lowered because there wasn’t enough money or other resources to buy food.
At some point in 2021, 3.8 percent (5.1 million) of US households experienced very low food security.This prediction hasn’t altered much from the 3.9 percent in 2020.
Among American homes with children under the age of 18:
Food Security Status of U.S. Households with Children in 2021
87.5 percent of families with children in 2021 had enough food. 12.5% of families with children experienced food insecurity in 2021. In some of these houses, it was just the adults who were food insecure, whereas in other households, it was also the children. In 6.3 percent of families with children, food insecurity affected only the adults. Both parents and children experienced food insecurity in 6.2 percent of households with kids (2.3 million households). Children are often protected from major reductions in food consumption, even in households with very low food security. However, one or more children in about 0.7 percent of families with kids (274,000 homes) at some point in the year also reported eating less and having their eating patterns disturbed.
The United States of America and India have different levels of food security due to various factors such as economic development, agricultural productivity, government policies, and cultural traditions. Here is a comparison of food security between the two countries:
- Food Availability: The United States is a developed country with a high level of agricultural productivity and abundant food supply. In contrast, India is a developing country with a large population that depends on agriculture, but its agricultural productivity is relatively low compared to the US. Despite this, India produces a significant amount of food and is one of the world’s largest food producers.
- Food Access: The United States has a well-established food distribution system that allows easy access to food for its citizens. In contrast, access to food is a challenge in some parts of India due to poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to transportation. The government of India has implemented various food security programs to address this issue.
- -Food Affordability: The United States has a high standard of living, and most people can afford to buy food. In contrast, a significant proportion of the Indian population lives in poverty and struggles to afford food. The Indian government has implemented various policies to provide food subsidies and ensure food affordability for its citizens.
What India could be, but what it is / How Covid 19 affected food security in India?
It is our bad luck that after 75 years of Independence we are unable to provide proper food security to every citizen of our country. India is also lagging behind in terms of employment, per capita income, malnutrition, etc. Initiatives has been taken but have often been seen that it’s not enough to cope up with the challenges and limitations present in our country. The ruling governments throughout the years after Independence have been the victim of corruption from its officers, so proper growth in all aspects is yet not possible. There is a huge gap in proper allocation of equality for everyone. Food security in India has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The epidemic has had a significant impact on the nation, with several cases and fatalities being documented. Lockdowns and travel restrictions were just two of the many methods the authorities took to stop the virus’s spread. These actions had a significant effect on the distribution and supply of food, which increased food prices and created shortages in some places. The pandemic had a major impact on the agricultural sector in India, which employs a large number of people. The lockdowns and restrictions on transportation made it difficult for farmers to access markets and sell their produce. This led to a decrease in demand and a fall in prices for many crops, which in turn led to farmers suffering financial losses. The pandemic also had an impact on the food processing and distribution industry. Many workers in these industries were forced to stay at home due to the lockdowns, which led to a disruption in the supply chain. This led to shortages of essential food items, such as wheat, rice, and pulses, in some areas. A decline in demand for particular food products was also brought on by the closing of hotels and restaurants, which resulted in an excess of some products.
To lessen the pandemic’s impact on food security, the Indian government took a number of steps.
This included providing financial assistance to farmers, increasing the minimum support price for certain crops, and distributing food grains to vulnerable populations through the public distribution system. The government also launched various initiatives to boost the agricultural sector and promote food processing and distribution.
Despite these efforts, the impact of the pandemic on food security in India has been significant. The pandemic has highlighted the need for more resilient food systems and better preparedness for future crises.
Here are some of the key ways in which COVID-19 has affected food security in India:
- Disrupted supply chains: The lockdowns and restrictions on movement of goods have disrupted food supply chains, leading to shortages of food in some areas and wastage in others.
- Loss of livelihoods: Many people have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, especially those who work in the unorganized sector and may not have access to social safety nets. Their capacity to buy food and fulfill their basic necessities has been impacted by this.
- Rising food prices: The disruption in supply chains and loss of livelihoods has led to rising food prices, making it even harder for people to access food.
- Mid-Day Meal Crisis: With schools closed, children were missing out on meals provided through mid-day meal schemes, which has affected their nutrition and health.
- Increased food waste: With restaurants and hotels closed, there has been an increase in food waste, which is a loss of valuable resources that could have been used to feed those in need.
- Migration: The pandemic has led to an increase in migration as people have lost their livelihoods and have had to move to other places in search of work. This has disrupted the food security of both migrants and the communities they leave behind.
The Indian government and NGOs have taken various measures to address the food security crisis caused by the pandemic, such as providing free or subsidized food, increasing the coverage of social safety net programs, and facilitating the movement of food and essential supplies. However, there is still a long way to go in ensuring that everyone in India has access to adequate, nutritious food.
Areas where it has reformed and areas where improvement is needed.
India has done well to increase food production and to create sufficient safety stocks and food grain storage. More than 70% of rural Indian households still rely primarily on agriculture, particularly raising animals. India, the ninth largest exporter of agricultural goods in the world, has a six-fold increase in food grain production from 50 million tonnes to around 300 million tonnes in 2019–20 from 1950–51, to become a net food exporter. The percentage of agricultural and related industries in the economy’s overall Gross Value Added increased to 20,2% in 2020–21 and 18,8% in 2021–22.In the last 30 years, India has transformed from a country with a food deficit to one that produces enough food for itself. This was made possible by the 2013 National Food Security Act (NFSA), which allowed the Public Distribution to provide subsidized monthly family rations of rice, wheat, or millets to 813 million people. Throughout the past ten years, levels of undernutrition among children have decreased as a result of different government initiatives. Between 2005 and 2019, the percentage of children under The proportion of children who were underweight reduced from 43 to 32 percent, and the number of children who were stunted decreased from 48 to 35 percent. From 2005 to 2015, the percentage of infants aged 6-59 months who were anemic decreased from 69 to 58 percent.
Challenges or areas in need of improvement.
Although the government has found strategies to increase agricultural production, it is unclear if these would be sufficient to benefit the small and marginal farmers who labor on rain-fed plots and make up the majority of Indian farmers. A large amount of India’s total agricultural land is irrigated, leaving the other area of land entirely dependent on rainfall. Due to increased water stress and limited water supplies for irrigation, extreme weather events make the nation’s agricultural production system more vulnerable to damage. It has already been observed in some agro-ecological zones that average temperature has risen, rainfall patterns have changed, the frequency of extreme weather events such severe droughts and floods has increased, and the agricultural seasons have shifted. Due to extended droughts during the Kharif season and rising temperatures and unusually high rainfall during the rabi season, the farming community in many areas has recently endured extreme agony. First off, agricultural growth rates have fluctuated as farming becomes more susceptible to climate change. Second, both the fast declining biodiversity and land degradation pose a serious danger to India’s food and environmental security. Due to uneven fertilizer use and excessive use of urea, one fertilizer, large areas of farmland in India have turned barren. Finally, according to 30% of the 5,723 administrative blocks in the nation, groundwater levels are unsustainable. Many farmers have been compelled to hunt for alternative sources of income due to the gradual fall in farm holding size and productivity. Concerns about food safety, especially for migrants and the impoverished in cities, exacerbate these problems. Untreated water, pest infestations, poor environmental sanitation, poor hygiene, and inadequate waste management all contribute to the contamination of food with contagious viruses and bacteria. Child malnutrition is linked to unclean water, poor sanitation, and/or poor hygiene in almost half of the cases. In order to improve nutritional status, food-borne illnesses must be prevented. Nutrition still presents a huge challenge, particularly for women and children because of social and economic inequalities. To reach global targets, the overall drop in childhood stunting must proceed more quickly. India is rapidly struggling with the twin burden of malnutrition: in 2019–20, only 11% of children aged 6–23 months have access to a sufficient diet. This is coupled with a rise in childhood obesity and overweight children, which can result in non-communicable diseases (NCD) in adulthood. Due to their disparate dietary and physical health condition, women and girls are disproportionately disadvantaged. This vulnerability is made worse by the increasing feminization of poverty and agriculture. 79 percent of rural women work in farming and agriculture, but only 13 percent of them own land. They also have little control over their lives and few options for security. It would boost agricultural output and guarantee food security for families and communities if women farmers are given equal access to rural extension and financial services as well as equal rights to property, including land.
Conclusion
One of today’s most pressing challenges is food security. That is one of the fundamental rights. Without food security, we cannot achieve our MDG. Approximately one-third of the population in India today does not have access to food security. We must increase our purchasing power, increase our output, and develop a sustainable plan if we want to guarantee that everyone has access to basic food at all times. Availability, approach, allocation, and absorption are the four gears of a life-improving vehicle that is food security. One might refer to the point where these four elements converge as the ideal position for food security. Therefore, there is a religious need to enhance these four aspects all across India. Food security also works like a prism, where the convergence of numerous (about seven) essential aspects results in a more effective strategy to ensure food security. India currently has a sizable buffer supply, and we produce food grains in excess each year. Black terror-like famines came to an end with the first Green Revolution. Malnutrition and a lack of appropriate dietary grains continue to be major obstacles to our sustainable growth. Most people today are living below the poverty line, which means they don’t have enough money to buy even the two meals they need to survive each day. Many people still lack employment and need employment in order to live the lives they desire and build the personal worlds they picture. We cannot consider being an economic force in this century without finding a solution to this issue. In order to attain the stated aims, the Government of India has, developed a vast array of supporting programmes. Some plans were converted into subsequent plans, while others were destroyed. Jobs increase people’s access to food, and the government has the authority to do so. Because malnutrition cannot be resolved by excess production or creating jobs, it is a much more serious issue than food insecurity in today’s generation. Only until everyone has access to affordable, fundamental healthcare services can these be remedied. This post made an effort to look into and describe the realities, challenges, and regulations related to food security in India. Food security, as we all know, depends on the availability of food, and India has developed strong skills in this area. Nonetheless, there is a need to diversify production further and develop relevant programmes due to the change in consumption preferences. The Indian government provides a certain quantity of rice and certain quantity of wheat at a specific cost per kg, respectively, under the National Food Security Law, although this is not a considerable effort to assure food security over the long term. In the end, India has a variety of programmes and policies to end food insecurity and malnutrition. These issues are still in front of us, though. Having said that, the delivery methods used by Selfhelp groups that are more devoted and effective can play a significant part in maintaining food security.
Author : Sagar Dutta – Third year student of B.ComLLB.( Hons.) of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata, 9477809289, sagardutta0045@gmail.com
Co-author : Rounak Mitra – Third Year student of Mass Communication and Journalism(Hons.) of St. Xavier’s University,Kolkata,
74396 83259, rounakmitter08@gmail.com