Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Food security, a cornerstone of societal well-being, gained prominence with the 1996 World Food Summit Rome Declaration and Plan of Action. It signifies a state where all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. The recent global food crisis, exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine war, has underscored its critical importance. India, with its vast population and agrarian economy, faces unique challenges in ensuring food security for its citizens. This necessitates a robust and adaptive food security system.
What is Food Security?
Food security is comprised of four pillars:
- Availability: Sufficient quantities of food are produced or imported.
- Access: People have adequate resources to obtain food. This includes economic access, physical access, and social access.
- Utilization: Food is properly used, including proper storage, preparation, and consumption.
- Stability: Access to food does not fluctuate significantly over time.
It’s not merely about calories but also about nutritional adequacy, considering micronutrient deficiencies are a significant public health concern in India.
Why is Food Security Essential?
- Human Development: Adequate nutrition is crucial for physical and cognitive development, particularly in children. Malnutrition stunts growth and hinders learning.
- Economic Growth: A healthy and well-nourished population is more productive, contributing to economic growth.
- Social Stability: Food insecurity can lead to social unrest and instability.
- National Security: Food self-sufficiency contributes to national security, reducing dependence on imports.
- SDG 2: Achieving food security is a key target of Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end hunger and promote sustainable agriculture.
The Indian Food Security System: A Detailed Overview
India's food security system has evolved significantly over the years. It comprises a complex network of programs and institutions.
Historical Context: The Public Distribution System (PDS)
The PDS was introduced in 1947, initially as a trickle-down strategy. It expanded significantly during the 1960s and 1970s, coinciding with the Green Revolution.
The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
Recognizing the inefficiencies of the universal PDS, the TPDS was introduced in 1997, targeting Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The coverage and benefits have been progressively expanded.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
The NFSA, enacted in 2013, provides a legal framework for food security. Key provisions include:
- Coverage: Up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population are entitled to receive subsidized food grains.
- Entitlements: Each eligible household is entitled to 5 kg of food grains per person per month.
- Subsidized Prices: Rice at ₹3/kg, wheat at ₹2/kg, and coarse grains at ₹1/kg.
- Grievance Redressal: Mechanisms for grievance redressal and consumer protection.
Other Important Schemes
- Annapurna Scheme: Provides 10 kg of food grains per month to elderly citizens who are not covered under any other social security scheme.
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides cooked meals to children in schools, improving nutritional intake and school attendance.
- Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): A comprehensive program addressing malnutrition, health, sanitation, and education for children under six years of age and pregnant/lactating mothers.
- Procurement and Storage: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is responsible for procuring, storing, and distributing food grains.
Challenges and Criticisms of the Indian Food Security System
- Leakages and Diversion: Significant amounts of food grains are lost due to pilferage, corruption, and diversion.
- Wastage: Improper storage and handling lead to spoilage and wastage of food grains.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: The focus on cereals overlooks the need for a more diverse and nutritious diet.
- Regional Disparities: Food security challenges vary across different regions of India.
- Administrative Inefficiencies: Complex procedures and bureaucratic hurdles hamper the effective implementation of the system.
- Impact on Farmers: Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) sometimes lead to overproduction of certain crops, impacting other crops and environmental sustainability.
Recent Developments and Reforms
The government is undertaking several reforms to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the food security system:
- Portability of Ration Cards: Allows beneficiaries to access food grains from any fair price shop across the country.
- Digitization of PDS: Use of technology to improve transparency and reduce leakages.
- Promotion of Fortified Foods: Adding essential micronutrients to staple foods to address nutritional deficiencies.
- Focus on Diversified Agriculture: Encouraging farmers to grow a wider variety of crops to improve nutritional outcomes.
Conclusion
India's food security system, while significantly contributing to poverty alleviation and nutritional support, faces persistent challenges. The NFSA provides a crucial legal framework, but effective implementation requires addressing issues of leakages, wastage, and nutritional imbalances. Moving forward, a shift towards a more technology-driven, decentralized, and nutritionally sensitive food security system is essential to achieve the goal of ‘Zero Hunger’ and ensuring a prosperous and healthy India. Strengthening the agricultural supply chain and promoting sustainable farming practices are also vital components of a long-term solution.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.