Towards a Hunger-Free India: Ensuring Food

Security for All

This article draws inspiration from The Hindu’s piece, "A food-sufficient
India needs to be hunger-free too" (October 16, 2024), and delves
into the pressing global challenge of food insecurity and malnutrition.
It highlights India’s remarkable progress in food production but
emphasizes the urgent need to shift the focus from merely achieving food
sufficiency to ensuring access to affordable, nutritious diets for all.
With a commitment to eradicate hunger by 2030, India aligns its efforts
with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2
—Zero Hunger.

Current Status of Food Security and Hunger in India

While India has made notable strides in agriculture, food insecurity and
hunger remain critical concerns. According to the International Food
Security Assessment (2022-2032), approximately 333.5 million
Indians were food insecure in 2022-23. This number is projected to
decline to 24.7 million by 2032. However, widespread income
disparities, poverty, and nutritional deficiencies continue to afflict
rural populations, underscoring that the mere availability of food does not
ensure that everyone has access to a balanced diet.

A survey conducted in 2022-23 revealed that 63.3% of rural Indians

could not afford a balanced diet, while 3.2% of the population fell short
of consuming 60 meals per month. Moreover, India's position in the
Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 is alarming, as it ranks 105th, placing
the country in the "serious" category for hunger.

Challenges to Food Security and Hunger Reduction

Despite numerous government interventions, India's progress in food

security has not fully translated into a reduction in hunger. Several
challenges contribute to this persistent issue:

 Inefficiencies in the Public Distribution System (PDS): The

PDS continues to suffer from leakages, corruption, and exclusion
errors. In 2022, 90 million eligible people were left out of the
Targeted Public Distribution System (TDPS). Although the One
 Nation, One Ration Card initiative was introduced, its
implementation is still incomplete.

 Income Inequality and Poverty: Income disparity remains a

significant barrier to food access. According to the World
Inequality Report (2022), the top 10% of India's population
controls 57% of the nation’s income, hindering equitable access to
food for the poorer segments of society.

 Nutritional Deficiencies: India's focus on calorie sufficiency has

often neglected the importance of nutritional adequacy.
Currently, 35.5% of children under five suffer from stunting,
and a survey indicated that average daily calorie intake remains far
below the required levels, leading to chronic malnutrition.

 Urbanization and Food Insecurity: Rapid urbanization has led to

a rise in urban food insecurity. A 2022 study conducted in Delhi
slums revealed that 51% of households experienced food
insecurity, exacerbating the challenge in urban areas.

 Gender Disparities: Women in India face significant inequalities

in food access, resulting in high rates of anemia. In fact, 57% of
women aged 15-49 are anaemic, which has long-term health and
economic implications.

 Post-Harvest Losses: Inadequate infrastructure leads to 30-40%

of fruit and vegetable waste. Insufficient cold storage facilities
further diminish the availability of fresh produce, worsening food
insecurity.

 Lack of Clean Water and Sanitation: Poor water, sanitation,

and hygiene (WASH) conditions aggravate malnutrition, with 163
million people lacking access to clean water. This situation
contributes to waterborne diseases and further complicates food
security.

Government Initiatives for Food Security and Hunger Reduction

The Indian government has implemented several initiatives to address

food security and hunger:

1. Food Security:

o The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, which

provides subsidized food grains to two-thirds of India's
population, is a critical step in ensuring food security.
 o The National Food Security Mission and National
Agriculture Market (e-NAM) are also instrumental in
enhancing agricultural productivity and improving access to
food.

2. Hunger Elimination:

o Programs like POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Mid-Day Meal

(MDM) Scheme, and Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS) aim to tackle malnutrition, particularly
among vulnerable groups like women and children.

Steps to Ensure Food Security and Reduce Hunger in India

To achieve both food security and hunger elimination, India must adopt a
multi-faceted approach:

1. Strengthen and Diversify the PDS:

o The inclusion of pulses, millets, and fortified foods in the

PDS can enhance nutritional diversity. The use of technology
can help reduce corruption and improve access for migrant
workers, ensuring more inclusive distribution.

2. Invest in Climate-Resilient Agriculture:

o Promoting sustainable farming, expanding crop insurance,

and supporting the cultivation of drought-resistant crops
are essential to counter the adverse effects of climate change.
Innovations like Swarna-Sub1, a flood-tolerant rice variety,
can help farmers adapt to extreme weather conditions.

3. Enhance Nutrition Education:

o Raising awareness about balanced diets through nutrition

education in schools and communities is key to addressing
malnutrition. Expanding the POSHAN Abhiyaan’s Jan
Andolan model can help promote healthy eating habits
nationwide.

4. Strengthen Urban Food Security:

o The urban poor need targeted interventions, including

community kitchens, urban farming, and food banks.
Partnerships with civil society organizations, such as Akshaya
Patra's centralized kitchens, can ensure widespread outreach
to those in need.

5. Promote Dietary Diversification:

 o Encouraging the production and consumption of nutrient-
rich traditional foods like millets, pulses, and indigenous
vegetables is crucial for achieving nutritional security. The
International Year of Millets 2023 can serve as a platform
to popularize these food sources.

6. Empower Women in Agriculture:

o Increasing women’s access to land, credit, and

agricultural inputs is vital. Initiatives like the Mahila Kisan
Sashaktikaran Pariyojana have already demonstrated
success in empowering women farmers, but scaling such
programs is essential for lasting impact.

7. Improve Post-Harvest Management:

o Developing decentralized storage, processing, and

transportation infrastructure can significantly reduce post-
harvest losses. The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund
should focus on these critical aspects to minimize waste and
improve food availability.

8. Provide Social Protection for Informal Workers:

o Enhancing social security for informal workers, such as

through urban employment guarantee schemes, can
ensure income stability and access to food for marginalized
populations.

9. Implement a Life-Cycle Approach to Nutrition:

o Programs addressing nutrition across all life stages, from

pregnancy to old age, are crucial. The Mathrupoorna
Scheme in Karnataka, which provides meals to pregnant
women, is an example of an effective initiative that could be
replicated across India.

10. Leverage Technology:

o Employing AI, satellite imagery, and mobile apps for real-

time monitoring, crop prediction, and beneficiary feedback—
such as through the Mera Ration mobile app—can
significantly improve food distribution systems and policy
implementation.

Conclusion

India must adopt a holistic approach to address the intertwined

challenges of food security, hunger, and malnutrition. By focusing on
nutrition, climate resilience, and inclusive social policies, India can
strengthen its existing programs and promote sustainable agricultural
practices. With the right strategies, India can not only achieve its food
security goals but also ensure a hunger-free nation by 2030, in line with
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The benefits of these
measures will be far-reaching, improving public health, boosting economic
productivity, and fostering social stability.