National food security bill, 2011

DRAFT NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL, 2011

The objectives of FOOD SECURITY as elaborated in the National Food Security Mission website are :

" In view of the stagnating food grain production and an increasing consumption need of the growing population, Government of India has launched this Centrally Sponsored Scheme, ‘National Food Security Mission’ in August 2007.

The major objective of this scheme is to increase production and productivity of wheat, rice and pulses on a sustainable basis so as to ensure food security of the country. The approach is to bridge the yield gap in respect of these crops through dissemination of improved technologies and farm management practices."

(https://www.indg.in/agriculture/rural-employment-schemes/national-food-security-mission)

Views of the World Health Organization on Food Security :

" The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences. In many countries, health problems related to dietary excess are an ever increasing threat, In fact, malnutrion and foodborne diarrhea are become double burden.

Food security is built on three pillars:

• Food availability: sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis.
• Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet.
• Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation. "

Source : https://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story028/en/

Of the three pillars that are discussed above, the pillar of Food Availability is the most important for the millions of underprivileged. As once opined by none other than the legendary Economist Prof. Amartya Sen, the main cause of any famine is non-availability of food. India, having chosen to become an welfare State, must look after her poverty-stricken citizens. With this backdrop in mind and with a dubious history of death-from-starvation, the Draft National Food Security Bill, 2011 has been prepared by the Government of India.

The said bill is attached herewith for your perusal. It has been downloaded from www.prsindia.org/.

Please share your views on the same.

Regards.