Food security is a critical issue for many countries around the world, and India is no exception. With a population of over 1.3 billion people, ensuring that everyone has access to adequate amounts of nutritious food is a complex and ongoing challenge. To address this issue, the Indian government has implemented a number of food security programmes designed to provide food assistance to those in need.
One of the main food security programmes in India is the Public Distribution System (PDS), which was introduced in the 1960s. Under the PDS, the government procures and stores grains, such as rice and wheat, and then distributes them to households through a network of fair price shops. The aim of the PDS is to provide a safety net for vulnerable populations, such as the poor and elderly, by ensuring that they have access to affordable food. However, the PDS has been criticized for being inefficient and prone to corruption, with grains often being sold on the black market rather than reaching those in need.
Another food security programme in India is the Midday Meal Scheme, which provides free lunches to school-aged children. Launched in 1995, the Midday Meal Scheme aims to improve children's nutrition and attendance in school. The programme has been successful in increasing enrolment and attendance in schools, but has also faced challenges, such as poor infrastructure and a lack of proper management.
In addition to these programmes, the Indian government has also implemented several other initiatives to address food insecurity. For example, the Pradhan Mantri Annapurna Yojana provides 10 kilograms of free grain per month to vulnerable households, and the Antyodaya Anna Yojana provides 35 kilograms of grain per month to the poorest families. The government has also launched the National Food Security Act, which aims to provide food assistance to up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population.
Overall, food security programmes in India have had some successes in improving access to food for those in need, but there are also significant challenges that need to be addressed. Improving the efficiency and transparency of programmes like the PDS, addressing infrastructure and management issues, and increasing investment in these initiatives will be key to ensuring that all Indians have access to nutritious food.
Food Security of India
 The objectives of the Department of Consumer Affairs are listed below. When all people, at all times, have physical and financial access to enough safe and nutritious food to suit their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, that is the definition of food security. The agricultural revolution was a prominent one in that life. Large tracts of farmlands in India have become barren due to imbalanced fertiliser use and excessive use of a single fertiliser, urea. Over the years, while the spending on food subsidy has increased, the ratio of people below the poverty line has decreased. Food subsidy is calculated as the difference between the economic cost of procuring food grains including procurement, stocking, distribution , and their Central Issue Price CIP. Over half of the population lives below the poverty line, and many of these people do not have enough money to buy food.
Food Security in India UPSC: About, Programmes and Challenges
The article here covers all the important aspects of the UPSC Exam, such as the Food Security definition, Food Security in India, need, programs, and schemes for food security. The pilot project saw rice fortified with iron, which was distributed in a single district, resulting in a 20 percent drop in anaemia. UNICEF translated global best practices for protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and complementary feeding and early childhood development into implementation tools, audio, video and text formats for dissemination across states. Â It has been argued that the costs of DBT may be lesser than TPDS, owing to lesser costs incurred on transport and storage. History Questions for UPSC and SSC Food Security Challenges in India Food security in India is a major challenge and there are several aspects to it. Distribution of ration and food items to migrant workers and economically weaker sections through digital apps, automated vending machines and physical distribution helped the UN combat malnutrition. According to the Human Rights Measurement Initiative.
How is food security in India?
The people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Its aim was to help the rural population 75% and the urban population 50% by offering food grains at a subsidized rate than the market price. The second most populous country in the world, India has enjoyed steady economic growth and has achieved self-sufficiency in grain production in recent years. From these shops, Items have been sold at a very low price as compared to the market. India has made progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition, but much more needs to be done. Department of Consumer Affairs In 2021-22, the Department has been allocated Rs 2,974 crore, which is a 24% annual increase over 2019-20 FY. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
Nutrition and Food Security
Under this scheme, each eligible family received 25 kilograms of foodgrains at a heavily subsidized rate of 2 per kg for wheat and 3 per kg for rice. Compared to 2019 — 20, revised estimate, the current budget is higher by 6% i. This Act, also known as the Right to Food Act, aims to give subsidized food grains to around two-thirds of India's 1. The objectives of this department are to ensure Food security through the following actions which are listed below. This price is known as Minimum Support price Question 4: What are the effects of Famine? Food security refers to ensuring adequate food supply to people, particularly those who are malnourished. Children who are malnourished are more likely to drop out of school or perform poorly in exams.
