The Food Security Bill in India, aimed at eradicating hunger and malnutrition, has generated optimism for addressing prevalent socio-economic challenges. However, its effective implementation faces several apprehensions. One concern revolves around logistical hurdles in reaching remote regions with adequate food supplies, given India’s vast and diverse landscape. Additionally, issues such as corruption and inefficiencies in the distribution system pose significant challenges. Moreover, the bill’s reliance on the Public Distribution System (PDS) raises questions about its capacity to efficiently target beneficiaries and prevent leakages. Furthermore, the Food Security Bill has stirred debates within the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding its potential implications for international trade. Critics argue that the bill’s substantial subsidies on food grains could distort global markets and breach WTO agreements. Balancing domestic welfare objectives with international trade obligations remains a key challenge for India. Thus, while the Food Security Bill holds promise, addressing these apprehensions is crucial for its successful implementation and navigating concerns within the WTO framework.
Tag: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices. Issues of buffer stocks and food security.
Decoding the Question:
- In Intro try to write about NFSA 2013
- In Body,
- The first part of the answer discusses how to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India.
- The second part of the answer discusses challenges in effective implementation of this act and concerns related to the act at WTO.
- Try to conclude by writing about the need for food security.
Answer:
The basic concept of food security globally is to ensure that all people, at all times, should get access to the basic food for their active and healthy life and is characterized by availability, access, utilization, and stability of food. Though the Indian Constitution does not have any explicit provision regarding right to food, the fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution may be interpreted to include the right to live with human dignity, which can include the right to food and other basic necessities.
The salient features of the act are as:
- Coverage and entitlement: Up to 75% of rural and 50% of the urban population will be covered under TPDS, with uniform entitlement of 5kg/person/month ration.
- Identification of households: The work of identification of eligible households is to be done by States/UTS.
- Maternity benefit: Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PWLM) are entitled to receive maternity benefits of not less than 6000 rupees.
- Nutritional support: PWLM and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years will be entitled to meals as per prescribed nutritional norms under ICDS, MDM (PM-Poshan).
- Women empowerment: Eldest women of the household of age 18 years or above to be deemed as head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards.
- Grievance Redressal: Act calls for dedicated mechanism for grievance redressal at district and state level.
- Transparency/Accountability: Provisions regarding social audits, setting up of vigilance committees, disclosure of PDS records etc.
- Food security allowance: It is entitled to the beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled food grains or meals.
Role of NFSA in eliminating hunger and malnutrition:
- According to a UN report, the number of undernourished people in India has declined by 60 million between 2006 to 2019.
- Improved access to food grains have improved the hunger outcomes amongst the poor and underprivileged.
- Wide coverage of the 2/3rd population have increased resilience in the poor against income shocks.
- Stunting in children under 5 years of age, according to the UN report, has decreased from 47.8% in 2012 to 34.7% in 2019.
- Monetary compensation has compensated against wage loss during pregnancy. PWLM can now access healthier food options like fruits, vegetables etc.
- The awareness generated by the Asha workers have increased the number of infants who were exclusively breastfed from 11.2 million in 2012 to 13.9 million in 2019.
However, there is still a long way for India to reach nutritional sufficiency as:
- Number of women in reproductive age suffering from anaemia grew from 165.6million in 2012 to 175.6 million in 2019.
- The CNNS have highlighted the prevalence of hunger/malnutrition in Indian children.
- The number of obese adults in India grew from 25.2 million in 2012 to 34.3 million in 2016.
- Institutional infrastructure for delivering the provisions of the food bill is poor.
- Widespread corruption has siphoned off the benefits to ghost beneficiaries and middlemen.
Food security is a basic right at the same time India needs to take a firm stand on its food security mission which again enables the government to achieve sustainable development targets and improve ranking in Global Hunger Index, in which India is currently underperforming.
“A permanent solution on public stockholding for food security purposes is a priority”. A decision on this issue will signal WTO’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the fight against hunger and malnourishment across the globe.
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