Prime Minister Modi, through his many schemes, has addressed basic issues of livelihood. He must adopt a similar approach to address the food security problem
Three days after the World Food Day, we shall be celebrating Diwali on Thursday. Undoubtedly, Diwali is the country’s biggest festival which enthralls the rich and poor, old and young alike. This is also a festival of generosity, where people freely exchange gifts and find an occasion to reinforce inter-personal bonding. A rare vibrance of warmth and magnanimity is felt all around. However, it is unfortunate that this benevolence character of our society has turned thin on the ground and today, it appears as a rarity. Couple this with the faulty policies of India’s grand old Congress over the decades and a rotten Public Distribution System, we have grim figures on hunger.
Isn't it a gigantic contradiction that even as we have made rapid progress in many areas of our social and economic lives, there are many millions who still struggle for foodIJ A population almost the size of Uttar Pradesh remains hungry everyday. And even though economists may find fault with this logic, one wonders why an impressive rise in foodgrains production has not led to equally impressive gains to eliminate hunger.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, in its report titled, ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, 2017’ depicted a grim picture — a staggering 190.7 million people or 14.5 per cent of the population is undernourished in India. Also, 51.4 per cent of women in reproductive age between 15 and 49 years are anaemic. Further, 38.4 per cent of the children aged under five are stunted (too short for their age), while 21 per cent suffer from wasting, meaning their weight is too low for their height. Malnourished children have a higher risk of death from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and malaria. The Global Hunger Index 2016 ranked India at 97 out of 118 countries on the basis of three leading indicators — prevalence of wasting and stunting in children under five years of age, under five child mortality rate, and the proportion of undernourished in the population.
Contrast these figures with the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare’s estimates on foodgrain production early this year, which pegged it to be at an all-time high of 272 million tonne in 2016-17, which is eight per cent higher than the 251.6 million tonne produced last year, it even surpassed the previous record of 265 million tonne in 2013-14.
Where is all the foodgrain going if every 12th Indian is sleeping hungryIJ Certainly, this is a result of a callous neglect by the then UPA-led Congress Government, which was at the helm for many years and despite its stated pro-poor stance, it was not able to address basic issue of food security for millions of people. Politics around the poor has taken precedence over pragmatic policies and the ‘15-paise-of-one-rupee' trickle rot that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi highlighted many years ago persisted. His own party, the Congress, is relishing these days in crafting juicy tweets as it failed miserably to stem this rot, and the results are visible.
There may be hope in the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has addressed basic issues of livelihood and has given dignity to the rural masses. From the Jan Dhan Yojana to Beti Bachao, to Clean India mission, Ujjwala and AMRIT, Prime Minister Modi has introduced a series of programmes besides focussing on robust implementation of the existing ones. Addressing core issues that deflect deliveries on the ground has been high on his radar and the Prime Minister’s regular meetings with Secretaries are known to address how to ensure good public services delivery to the last miles.
However, in context of this particular issue, it would be good if the Prime Minister can provide a few gentle nudges that shall address this rather demoralising piece of fact of modern India. First, Prime Minister Modi can consider advising the BJP-ruled States to formulate special policies to address issue of food insecurity. Setting up affordable food canteens (Sasta Khan Pan Sewa) on the lines of Chennai’s Amma Canteen could be one way.
Second, the private sector has been known to contribute generously to health and education. The Prime Minister can extend calls to corporate sector, especially those in the food industry, to contribute in creating a network of food banks in poor regions in coordination with local administration. Third, the Prime Minister’s office may look at the issue of lack of access of adequate food among urban poor and encourage hotels industry to form network to distribute surplus food. Many reputed Indian hotels chains and food business which may already be doing such activities could form a coalition with participation from the Government to make it more formidable.
And last but not least, Modi can urge the people to not waste food and instead feed those in need. The United Nations Development Programme released a data on World Food Day that said that if we saved even one-fourth of food currently wasted or lost globally, we could feed 870 million hungry people. How about a campaign Bhukh Nahi Bharat Mein (let there be no hunger in India) — and a challenge that by next Diwali there will be many millions less who will not sleep early. This is one of the best Diwali gifts Prime Minister could give us.
(The writer is a strategic communications professional)