National Perspective on the Right to Food

Throughout history, Indians have prioritized abundant food production, but the distribution of
foodgrains has typically been the responsibility of rulers or the state.

British India experienced famines due to inadequate foodgrain distribution, leading to

imbalances in the system. Since gaining independence, India has made significant progress in
preventing famines compared to many other developing countries.

However, millions of Indians still suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition, with some
regions facing worse conditions than Sub-Saharan Africa, where intermittent famines still
occur. India faced major food crises in 1972-74 and 2006-07/2008-10, responding by
increasing its foodgrain stocks. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was established to
implement the objectives of the National Food Policy of 1964.Despite progress, India
continues to grapple with food security challenges, including malnutrition and food
distribution issues.

The passage outlines the objectives and stocking norms related to foodgrain management in
India:

Objectives of Foodgrain Management:

 Effective price support operations to protect farmers' interests.

 Efficient distribution of foodgrains through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
 Price regulation to ensure affordable grain availability for consumers.
 Maintenance of operational and buffer stocks for national food security.

Revision of Buffer Stock Norms: Buffer stock norms are periodically revised to
accommodate the country's growing population and changing foodgrain requirements. These
norms are set quarterly and include both operational stocks and strategic reserves.

Components of Stocking Norms (As of January 22, 2015):

- Operational stocks to meet monthly distribution requirements under the Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes like Mid-Day Meal and Food for
Work programs.

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 - Food security stocks or reserves to address procurement shortfalls caused by factors such
as reduced production or natural disasters.

The challenges faced by both the US and Indian governments regarding grain reserves and
food distribution:

1. US Grain Reserves: In the mid-1960s, the US government had a surplus of grain

reserves due to increased farm productivity. Storing these surplus incurred high costs
as the grain couldn't be sold at profitable prices. This situation raised political
concerns.
2. Indian Food Crisis of 2008-10: India faced a similar dilemma during the 2008-10
food crisis when there was a record foodgrain procurement. Inadequate storage
facilities, including open or tarpaulin-covered storage, led to foodgrains rotting,
despite reports of hunger and malnutrition.
3. Court Intervention: The Indian Supreme Court intervened, emphasizing the need for
the government to distribute foodgrains at little or no cost. The court provided
guidelines, calling for long-term measures like constructing covered storage facilities
and short-term measures such as increasing foodgrain supplies to the Below Poverty
Line (BPL) population, expanding Fair Price Shops (FPSs), and distributing
foodgrains at low or no cost.
4. Strengthening PDS: The court ordered the strengthening of the Public Distribution
System (PDS), especially in tribal and drought-prone areas, to ensure the fair
distribution of allocated foodgrains.
5. NFSA 2013: The orders in the PUCL case played a significant role in the enactment
of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013. These orders defined the right to
food as a constitutionally guaranteed right in India and outlined policy guidelines for
its implementation, making government officials accountable for non-compliance.

The government initiatives related to food security and social welfare in India, which are:

Government Initiatives: The Indian government has launched numerous programs and
schemes aimed at eradicating hunger, promoting employment, and improving social welfare.
Notable examples include the Public Distribution System (PDS), the Mid Day Meal Scheme,
the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) program, and the Mahatma Gandhi
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

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Food Availability Challenges: Despite substantial food reserves and self-sufficiency in food
production, India still faces widespread hunger, chronic malnutrition, and starvation deaths.
The core issue lies in ensuring food security at the household and individual levels.

Selective Benefits: Many welfare schemes have not effectively reached the most
impoverished individuals, as administrative processes have often favored politically dominant
groups. This selective distribution has left the poorest and most marginalized without
adequate support.

Economic Disparities: India's economic growth has not translated into improved living
conditions for the poor. Economic disparities have widened, leading to an increase in the
number of hungry and malnourished individuals, including malnourished children.

Food Surplus vs. Affordability: India produces a surplus of foodgrains, yet much of it is
either exported or sold at market rates. The poor and marginalized cannot afford to purchase
grains at market prices, highlighting the importance of strengthening and targeting welfare
measures like the PDS to provide affordable food to those in need.

There is need to bridge the gap between economic growth and the well-being of the poor and
marginalized, particularly through effective and targeted implementation of welfare programs
like the PDS to ensure food security for all.

Programmes initiated by Central and State Governments

Various important policy initiatives and programs implemented by the Central Government of
India to address chronic hunger and improve food distribution. Here's a summary of the key
points:

1. Public Distribution System (PDS):

The PDS is a critical component of India's food supply management, consisting of both
private and public distribution channels. It began during World War II and evolved into a
significant tool for food distribution. The PDS is jointly managed by the Central and State
Governments and provides commodities like wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene through a
network of ration shops (FPSs).

Criticism of PDS: The PDS in India has faced criticism due to various defects and
challenges. These include leakages, corruption, diversion of foodgrains to the black market,
inferior quality supplies, and problems with the identification of beneficiaries. The absence of

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clear criteria for classifying families as Below Poverty Line (BPL) or Above Poverty Line
(APL) has led to corruption and exclusion of deserving families.

Measures for Improvement: To enhance the PDS, various suggestions have been proposed.
These include the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), strengthening
vigilance squads, choosing personnel locally, ensuring quality checks, promoting
transparency, and increasing the profit margins for FPS dealers. Automation and
computerization of the PDS chain are also recommended.

Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS): The RPDS was launched in 1992, focusing
on development blocks where area-specific programs were implemented. It aimed to provide
additional commodities like tea, soap, pulses, and iodized salt to identified beneficiaries.

Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): In 1997, the TPDS was introduced,
emphasizing targeted subsidies for the poor. It required the identification of Below Poverty
Line (BPL) families, and a more transparent and accountable distribution system. The TPDS
aimed to benefit about 6 crore poor families.

End Retail Prices: The end retail price of foodgrains in the TPDS is determined by State/UT
Governments, considering factors like margins, transportation charges, and local taxes.
Flexibility has been provided to States/UTs in fixing the retail issue prices for various
beneficiary categories, except for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries who have
fixed prices.

Overall, these initiatives seek to improve the efficiency, transparency, and targeting of the
public distribution of foodgrains in India, with a focus on reaching the most vulnerable
populous.

2. Mid-Day Meal scheme

The Mid-Day Meal scheme in India has a long history, dating back to the pre-independence
era when the British administration and the French administration in Puducherry initiated
similar programs to provide lunchtime meals to disadvantaged children in schools.

Initiatives by Indian states to provide mid-day meals to school-going children began in

earnest in the 1960s. Madras (now Tamil Nadu) is regarded as a pioneer in this regard. Over
time, many states joined the program, and it was expanded to cover more schools and grade
levels.

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The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was
launched by the Indian government in 1995 to enhance enrollment, retention, attendance, and
nutrition levels among children. It provided free foodgrains and financial assistance to states.

The cost of the Mid Day Meal Scheme is shared between the Central and State Governments,
with special provisions for Special Category States, where the Central Government bears a
higher percentage of the cost.

The program was revised several times to improve its effectiveness, including increasing the
nutritional content of meals and providing assistance for cooking costs.

Two main models for running the scheme are decentralized, where local administrations and
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are involved in cooking and delivering meals, and centralized,
where external organizations provide cooked meals, often through Public-Private
Partnerships (PPPs).

Monitoring mechanisms involve various committees at different levels of government to

review and ensure the proper functioning of the program.

While the Mid-Day Meal scheme has brought many benefits, including increased school
attendance and socialization, it has also faced challenges, such as corruption, meal quality
issues, and instances of foodborne illnesses. Child hunger remains a significant issue in India
despite the program's efforts.

The Mid Day Meal scheme is a crucial initiative in India aimed at improving child nutrition,
school attendance, and overall well-being, but it faces ongoing challenges in implementation
and ensuring the quality and safety of meals provided to children.

3. ICDS scheme

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in India was launched in 1975
and is a flagship program aimed at providing early childhood care and development for
children aged 0-6 years. It is a massive outreach program with a substantial budget, jointly
funded by the Central and State Governments.

The ICDS scheme offers six key services: supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal
education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-ups, and referral

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services. The nutritional aspect aims to provide specific calorie and protein requirements to
children and adolescent girls.

The scheme has made significant progress in reaching millions of Indian children and is
implemented by approximately 14 lakh Anganwadi workers across the country. It has
positively impacted child development and nutrition, with notable improvements in mental
and social development.

However, there are also challenges and criticisms of the program, including its inability to
fully achieve its objectives, disparities in participation, and concerns about replacing
nutritious food with cash transfers. Discussions about potential reforms and changes in the
program's implementation are ongoing.

The ICDS scheme is a crucial initiative in India for child development and nutrition, but it
faces both successes and challenges in achieving its goals and improving the well-being of
children and mothers.

4. MGNREGA

The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is an Indian
government scheme initiated in 2006. Its primary objective is to provide at least 100 days of
wage employment per year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer for
unskilled manual work.

MGNREGA was inspired by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right
to life and personal liberty, and Article 16, which guarantees equality of opportunity in public
employment. The program is implemented at the grassroots level through Gram Panchayats,
emphasizing transparency and accountability.

The program provides legal entitlement to employment within a 5-kilometer radius of the
applicant's village and guarantees minimum wages for unskilled labor. If work is not
provided within 15 days of application, an unemployment allowance is granted.

MGNREGA has shown several positive impacts, including increased rural wages,
empowering women through reserved jobs, reducing migration, and creating durable
community assets such as roads, ponds, and wells.

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However, the program has faced criticism due to issues like leakages, corruption, and
concerns that it might discourage agricultural labor. Various amendments and proposed
changes, including restricting the program to specific areas, have generated debates and
discussions.

In recent years, the program has come under scrutiny, with efforts to evaluate its effectiveness
and address its shortcomings, all while maintaining its goal of providing employment and
improving the lives of rural households.

5. AAY

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is a government scheme in India aimed at providing
highly subsidized food grains (wheat, rice, and coarse grains) to the "poorest of the poor."
The term "Antyodaya" signifies the upliftment of the weakest sections of society, in line with
Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of "Sarvodaya through Antyodaya."

The scheme was launched on December 25, 2000, and was initially implemented in
Rajasthan. It was designed to provide 25 kg of food grains per month to identified households
belonging to the poorest strata of society. The beneficiaries are given distinctive ration cards
(usually light green or yellow) to facilitate easy identification.

Over the years, the scheme has been expanded to cover more states and additional priority
groups, such as widows, disabled individuals, elderly persons, single men/women without
means of subsistence, tribal households, landless agricultural laborers, and rural
artisans/craftsmen, among others. The expansion has increased the coverage to a significant
percentage of below poverty line (BPL) households.

The prices of food grains under AAY have remained highly subsidized since its inception.
Additionally, there have been efforts to provide sugar subsidies to AAY beneficiaries under
the Public Distribution System (PDS), and these subsidies have been subject to changes over
time.

Overall, the AAY scheme plays a crucial role in ensuring that the most vulnerable and
economically disadvantaged sections of society have access to essential food grains at
affordable prices, aligning with the principles of inclusive development.

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The Annapurna scheme, announced in the 1999-2000 budget by Union Finance Minister
Yashwant Sinha, was launched on April 1, 2000, by the Government of India. It aims to
provide food security to indigent senior citizens who do not have any income and are not
covered by the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) or any other state-government
welfare scheme.

Under the Annapurna scheme, eligible individuals are entitled to receive 10 kg of food grains
per month free of cost. These beneficiaries are typically senior citizens who qualify for old
age pensions under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) but are
not receiving it for various reasons. The scheme restricts the number of beneficiaries to 20%
of the total old age pensioners within each state or union territory. Gram Panchayats are
responsible for identifying and preparing a list of eligible individuals, with a focus on
creating awareness about the program.

The scheme addresses the gap in coverage of indigent senior citizens who may not benefit
from IGNOAPS due to factors like lack of awareness, absence of identification documents,
poor health, and other reasons.

In its initial year (2000-01), the Annapurna scheme covered 6.64 lakh individuals out of a
maximum potential beneficiary pool of 13.76 lakh based on IGNOAPS data.

Overall, the Annapurna scheme is designed to provide essential food security to vulnerable
senior citizens who would otherwise go without support, aligning with the broader objectives
of social welfare and poverty alleviation programs in India.