Hunger death continues unabated in different parts of the world and emerges as most primary humanitarian concern globally. The world hunger index 2016 ranked India at 97th out of 118 countries and the International food policy research institute reports that about 15 per cent of the Indian population lack adequate qualitative food in proper quantity.
India continues to be one of the highly unequal societies in the world and it ranks 131 out of 188 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) prepared by the United Nations Development Programme. There have been reports of hunger death, malnutrition and lack of access to adequate quality food in different parts of the country.
Globally, it is understood that ensuring food and basic amenities for its people is the fundamental responsibility of the Government as right to food is a precondition for right to life. But unfortunately, there are millions of people who are deprived of right to food because of our unequal economic, political and cultural systems and practices that perpetuate inequality which leads to poverty and hunger. The economic policy and interventions by the Government through various schemes need much public awareness and healthy informed debate to counter poverty, hunger death, malnutrition and food insecurity, especially among the poor and marginalised sections of our society. The most vulnerable section among the poor and marginalized are children in rural areas and urban slums of low income groups who are deprived of quality food for their growth and continues to suffer with malnutrition. This has wider ramification over human development of a nation.
India runs two most widely covered popular food distribution programmes against malnutrition under ICDS and Mid-day meal for children in Anganwadies and schools. There are States such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka which provide two times egg and distribute milk thrice in a week in Agwanwadies and substantially bring improvement in MDM programme.
There are subsidised food distribution programme by the Central and the State Governments under the National Food Security Act 2013 which ensures minimum level of food grain that is 5kg rice and wheat for each priority poor household through public distribution system. Many of the State Governments have their own State specific interventions as additional inputs to expand the process. Jammu and Kashmir has Mufti Mohammad Sayed food entitlement scheme as supplementary programme and the West Bengal Government has introduced a special food packet named as Ramzan package, though not just limited to Muslims only, in a subsidised rate through public distribution system for the people of the State.
In the year 2013, Tamil Nadu has gone ahead with introduction of historic cook food and drinking water programme which has been very popular in the country as Amma Canteen and Amma packed drinking water. It provides Idli at rate of Rs 1, Sambar rice at Rs 5, cud rice at Rs 3 and drinking water at Rs 10 per liter. It is told that the eateries are well maintained and have been generating employment for poor women with standard salary and social security benefits while ensuring quality food at subsidized rate for the common people out of the State fund.
It has been observed that the scheme of Government of Tamil Nadu has influenced other States to follow the path. During last five years, there are many States coming up with their own schemes to ensure subsidised food for the urban poor and beyond.
The Government of Odisha has AHARA scheme, under which rice and dalma s provided at Rs 5. The scheme began in the year 2015. The Government of Karnataka has introduced Namma canteen where breakfast is provided at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10. It has also decided to lunch Saviruchi mobile canteen in the State to be managed through women self-help groups. The Madhya Pradesh Government has Deen Dayal canteen which provides a Thali of four Roti, vegetables and Dal at Rs 5. The Andhra Pradeh Government has NTR Anna Canteen and Telengana has meal at Rs 5. The Delhi Government has Aam Admi canteen and Himanchal Pradesh has Rajiv Thali Yojana meal scheme at Rs 25. Similarly, Rajastan has set up Annapurna Rasois in 12 districts to provide breakfast at Rs 5, and lunch and dinner at Rs 8 with the slogan of food for all and respect for all. The State Government has arranged about 80 mobile vans to distribute food. The Uttar Pradesh Government in a recent move has decided to start Annapurna canteen to provide refreshment at Rs 3 and full meal at Rs 5 in municipal areas under public private partnership mode. The canteens will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner at Rs 13 and the menu includes Idli, sambar, Poha, pokada, porridge, tea, dal, rice, chapatti, and seasonal vegetables. It is witnessed from all State schemes that Odisha’s scheme is most poor in comparison to others.
While the appreciation for such schemes has come from many quarters especially from the poorer section, there have been serious criticisms of such schemes by branding as populist and politically motivated. But the most important concern of such schemes has been corruption in handling the scheme as there is very little transparency and accountability without much public audit. It has been told that the schemes out of public money have not been reaching to the real beneficiaries. It is also argued that providing subsidized food promotes charity out of public money rather than bringing food sustainability among the poor and marginalised and ultimately impacting over work culture. Therefore it is equally important to educate people about healthy and quality food eating habits and developing the common people’s access to quality food by empowering them with income and employment along with policy for minimising economic disparity.
It is observed that food preparation becomes a costly affair in the poor and lower income families who are struggling with time and non-availability of basic amenities such as clean fuel , water , sanitation and shelter for quality living. The burden of food preparation mostly lies on women in family. The food available in market places is inaccessible to the poor in terms of price and not hygienic also for different age groups.
Along with control of food price and strict implementation of weight and measure, in order to reduce the common people dependency on Government subsidised eateries, the Government should ensure clean fuel, water, electricity, sanitation and housing facilities, especially for the vulnerable urban poor and low income groups in rural and urban areas. The families with small landholding must be encouraged with food production to meet the growing food needs. The mass production of cereals, vegetables, fruits, milk, egg and meat products at household level will improve access to food and reduce dependency on market for purchase of food for which it is important to ensure land for each family.
It is suggested that the subsidised food schemes must not be looked as permanent solution; rather these schemes while fulfilling the present need of poor, must be used as a means to improve quality of life and boost employment. More so, it helps reduce inequality by empowering the poor and marginalized through access to quality food.
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