As per Global Hunger Index 2020, India at 94th position among 107 countries.
India is much behind Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nepal.
UN-FAO report reveals that about 23% of the world’s undernourished population are from India.
India’s malnutrition levels are almost twice the level of many African countries.
What are the strides made by India in Agricultural production?
India has already achieved self-sufficiency in agricultural production.
It produces more than the estimated amount required to feed the entire population.
It ranks first in millets, second in rice & wheat production in the world.
India’s has surplus production of horticultural crops-fruits and vegetables.
Still mass hunger is rampant across States.
Why does hunger level still exist?
As per the Department of Consumer Affairs data, between 2011 -2017 almost 62,000 tons of food grains were damaged in FCI warehouses.
In 2016-17 alone, over 8,600 tons of food grains were lost.
The study by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations reveals that millions of ineligible and bogus ration cards exist.
But many genuine poor families do not have ration cards.
How to address this issue?
State should ensure remunerative prices for the farm produce.
For this, MSP should be made available to maximum range of farm products to enhance the purchasing power of farmers.
India should also improve PDS & Public Procurement.
World Food Programme recommends 60 grams of pulses in food basket to prevent cancer, diabetes & heart diseases.
Hence procurement, creation of buffer stock of pulses should be increased & it should be included in PDS.
Kerala has some serious issue w.r.t. food security.
Annapurna Yojana guarantees 10Kgs of food grains per month at free of cost to destitute persons (above 65 years) who are with no or meagre subsistence.
But centre has fixed a target that 20% of beneficiaries should be from the category who does not receive any pension from any old age pension scheme.
In Kerala, almost all the sections of people are covered under social security pension & are excluded from this scheme.
