Towards a Hunger-Free India: Ensuring Food Security for All

This article, inspired by “A food-sufficient India needs to be hunger-free too” from The Hindu (October 16, 2024), addresses the global challenge of food insecurity and malnutrition, emphasising the growing issues of rising costs, conflict, and climate change.

It highlights India’s significant strides in food production but underscores the need to shift focus from mere food sufficiency to ensuring access to affordable, nutritious diets. The ultimate goal is to combat persistent hunger and malnutrition, aligning with global efforts to eliminate these issues by 2030.

Current Status of Food Security and Hunger in India

India has made significant progress in agriculture, but food insecurity and hunger remain critical concerns. The International Food Security Assessment (2022-32) estimated that around 333.5 million Indians were food insecure in 2022-23. This number is projected to reduce to 24.7 million by 2032. However, income disparities, poverty, and nutritional deficiencies continue to affect the majority of rural populations.

According to a survey, 63.3% of rural Indians couldn’t afford a balanced diet in 2022-23, while 3.2% of the population did not meet a minimum threshold of 60 meals per month. India ranked 105th in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024, placing it in the “serious” category for hunger levels.

Challenges to Food Security and Hunger Reduction

Despite various government interventions, India’s food security achievements have not fully translated into reduced hunger.

Some key issues include:

• Inefficient Public Distribution System (PDS): Leakages, corruption, and exclusion errors persist, and 90 million eligible people were excluded from the Targeted Public Distribution System (TDPS) in 2022. Though the One Nation, One Ration Card initiative was introduced, its implementation remains incomplete.
• Income Inequality and Poverty: Significant income disparities persist despite poverty reduction efforts. World Inequality Report (2022) shows the top 10% of Indians hold 57% of the nation’s income, affecting food access.
• Nutritional Challenges: India’s focus on calorie sufficiency often neglects nutritional adequacy. 5% of children under five suffer from stunting, and a survey revealed that daily calorie intake is far below requirements, leading to chronic malnutrition.
• Urbanization: As more people move to cities, urban food insecurity is rising. A 2022 study in Delhi slums found that 51% of households experienced food insecurity.
• Gender Disparities: Women face significant inequalities in food access, leading to high anaemia rates—57% of women aged 15-49 are anaemic.
• Post-harvest Losses: Lack of infrastructure results in 30-40% of fruit and vegetable waste, and inadequate cold storage affects food availability.
• Limited Water and Sanitation: Poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) conditions exacerbate malnutrition. 163 million people lack access to clean water, causing waterborne diseases.

Government Initiatives for Food Security and Hunger Reduction

India has introduced several policies and programs to address food security and hunger:

1. Food Security: Initiatives include the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, National Food Security Mission, and National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), among others.
2. Hunger Elimination: Programs like POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme, and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) focus on improving nutrition, especially for vulnerable populations.

Steps to Ensure Food Security and Reduce Hunger in India

To achieve both food security and hunger elimination, India needs to adopt a multi-faceted approach:

1. Strengthen and Diversify PDS: Include pulses, millets, and fortified foods in PDS, and use technology to reduce corruption and improve access for migrant workers.
2. Invest in Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Promote sustainable farming, expand crop insurance, and support drought-resistant crops. Technologies like the flood-tolerant rice variety Swarna-Sub1 can help farmers adapt to climate change.
3. Enhance Nutrition Education: Raise awareness about balanced diets, integrating nutrition education into schools and communities. Expand the POSHAN Abhiyaan’s Jan Andolan model for wider reach.
4. Strengthen Urban Food Security: Target the urban poor through community kitchens, urban farming, and food banks. Partnerships with civil society and programs like Akshaya Patra’s centralized kitchens can enhance outreach.
5. Promote Dietary Diversification: Encourage the production and consumption of nutrient-rich traditional foods like millets, pulses, and indigenous vegetables. The International Year of Millets 2023 can be a platform to promote these foods.
6. Empower Women in Agriculture: Increase women’s access to land, credit, and agricultural inputs. Programs like Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana have empowered women farmers, showing promising results.
7. Improve Post-Harvest Management: Develop decentralized storage, processing, and transportation infrastructure. Focus on reducing waste and improving logistics with the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
8. Social Protection for Informal Workers: Enhance social security for informal workers, and consider urban employment guarantee schemes to provide stability and access to food.
9. Life-Cycle Approach to Nutrition: Implement programs addressing nutrition needs at all life stages, from pregnancy to old age. Initiatives like Karnataka’s Mathrupoorna Scheme, providing meals to pregnant women, are examples of effective interventions.
10. Leverage Technology: Use AI, satellite imagery, and mobile apps for real-time monitoring, crop prediction, and beneficiary feedback, as demonstrated by the Mera Ration mobile app.

Conclusion

India must adopt a holistic approach to address food security and hunger, focusing on nutrition, climate resilience, and inclusive social policies.

By strengthening existing programs and promoting sustainable practices, India can achieve its food security goals and ensure a hunger-free nation by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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