The document discusses India's right to food and challenges in ensuring food security for its citizens. It notes that the Indian constitution recognizes access to adequate food as a basic right. However, government programs like PDS, ICDS and NREGA have faced issues in effectively addressing hunger. The number of hungry people in India remains very high at over 200 million. Ensuring effective public distribution systems, reducing corruption in employment schemes and fully utilizing child development funds are seen as important to make progress on the right to food in India.

1. FOOD : THE MOST BASIC NEED

2. As per the Supreme Court of India “Basic needs of man have traditionally been accepted to the three - food, clothing and shelter. The right to life is guaranteed in any civilized society. That would take within its sweep the right to food, the right to clothing, the right to decent environment and a reasonable accommodation to live in.” Shantistar Builders vs. Narayan Khimalal Totame, Civil Appeal No. 2598 of 1989, decided Jan. 31, 1990. Supreme Court of India, at sec. 9.

3. Right to food in India Indian Constitution of 1950 Article 47 articulates the right to food and its relationship to health: “The state shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties.” Draft Right to Food Act (June 2009): “It is imperative to create and enforce legal entitlements and obligations to ensure that every person is assured physical, economic and social access to adequate food with dignity as is necessary to lead an active and healthy life.”

4. Some Government Programmes related to Food Security PDS- The Public distribution System evolved as a system of management of scarcity and for distribution of food grains at affordable prices. ICDS –The Integrated Child Development Services to improve the nutritional and health status of pre-school children in the age-group of 0-6 years NREGA- The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005, a law with a guarantee of 100 days of unskilled manual work per household per year

5. But still many people are suffering from hunger, or are malnourished 842 million in 1990/92 832 million in 1995/97 848 million in 2003/2005 860 million in 2004/2006 923 million in 2007/2008 963 million in 2008/2009

7. On the 2008 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 66out of 88 countries.

8. India has some of the highest rates of child malnutrition and mortality in the world.

9. India’s rice yields are less than half those of China and have increased little over the last decade.

10. Agriculture now accounts for 84% of total water use in India

12. Challenges Encountered Is our Public distribution system effective enough. If not what are the ways to make it effective???????? The NREGS an intentional win- win situation is turned down to a new way of corruption?????? The ICDS (a premier scheme against food insecurity) is not even able to use the funds allocated it . Where are we heading to????????

13. Can India win the battle against hunger??