Date: 03/05/2023

Relevance: GS-2: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.

Key Phrases: World Health Organisation, Stunted growth, Cognitive development delays, National Food Security Act, Integrated Child Development Services, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyaan.

Context:

• Disruptions in global food production and distribution systems, triggered by Covid-19 and further accentuated by the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian conflict, have made food insecurity a global issue, including in wealthy, industrialised countries.

Key Highlights:

• Among mothers with a child between ages 6-23 months, 18 per cent reported that their child did not eat any food whatsoever — referred to as “zero-food” — in the 24 hours preceding the survey.
• The zero-food prevalence was 30 per cent for infants aged 6-11 months, remains worryingly high at 13 per cent among the 12-17 months old, and persists even among 18-23 months-old children at 8 per cent.
• Going without food for an entire day at this critical period of a child’s development raises serious concerns related to severe food insecurity.
• According to the World Health Organisation, at six months of age, 33 per cent of the daily calorie intake is expected to come from food.
• This proportion increases to 61 per cent at 12 months of age. The recommended calorie percentages mentioned here are the minimum amount that should come from food.
• It is presumed that the child obtains the remaining calories through “on-demand” breastfeeding, meaning the child is breastfed whenever they need it throughout the day and night, and not solely when the mother is able to provide it.
• Access to adequate and affordable nutritious food is equally necessary for mothers for healthy breastfeeding.

What are the Impacts of Nutritional Deprivation Among Young Children?

• Stunted growth: Children who do not receive adequate nutrition may experience stunted growth, which means they do not grow as tall as they should for their age. This can have long-term consequences for their physical and cognitive development.
• Weak immune system: Malnourished children have weaker immune systems, making them more vulnerable to illnesses and infections. This can lead to frequent illnesses and longer recovery times.
• Cognitive development delays: Malnutrition can impact a child's cognitive development, leading to learning difficulties, poor concentration, and reduced ability to perform well in school.
• Behavioral problems: Nutritional deprivation may also contribute to behavioral problems such as irritability, aggression, and anxiety.
• Increased risk of chronic diseases: Malnutrition during childhood can increase the risk of chronic diseases later in life, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
• Delayed development milestones: Lack of proper nutrition can result in a delay in a child's physical and developmental milestones, such as walking, talking, and socializing.

Role of National Food Security Act (NFSA):

• The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is a social welfare program launched by the Government of India in 2013, aimed at ensuring food security for the country's population.
• The act provides for the distribution of subsidized food grains to targeted beneficiaries through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Several challenges that need to be overcome for it to be truly effective.
  • One of the primary challenges in the implementation of the NFSA is the identification of beneficiaries. The act provides for the identification of beneficiaries through a process of enumeration and categorization, but this process has been criticized for being flawed and inaccurate. As a result, many deserving households are left out of the system, while some ineligible households are included.
  • Another challenge faced by the NFSA is the issue of leakages and corruption in the PDS. Despite efforts to improve the system, leakages and corruption persist, leading to a significant portion of the subsidized food grains not reaching their intended beneficiaries. This is particularly true in areas with weak governance structures and inadequate monitoring mechanisms.
  • Furthermore, there are challenges in the procurement and distribution of food grains. India has a large and complex food procurement system, and delays in procurement and transportation can lead to shortages in some areas. Additionally, there have been concerns about the quality of food grains distributed through the PDS.
• To overcome these challenges, several steps can be taken.
  • The first is to improve the identification of beneficiaries. This can be achieved by using technology-based solutions such as biometric authentication and linking Aadhaar cards to PDS accounts. The government can also conduct regular audits of the beneficiary lists to ensure that they are accurate and up-to-date.
  • There is a need to strengthen the governance and monitoring mechanisms of the PDS. This can be done by improving the accountability of officials involved in the system and introducing technology-based monitoring mechanisms such as GPS tracking of trucks transporting food grains.
  • There is a need to streamline the food procurement system to ensure a timely and adequate supply of food grains.
  • This can be achieved by introducing reforms such as the liberalization of the agricultural market, reducing the burden of food procurement on the government, and encouraging private sector involvement in procurement and distribution.

Conclusion:

• To achieve the SDG of zero hunger, and building on the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, India should consider a strategic initiative led by the Prime Minister’s Office aimed at eliminating food insecurity in India and ensuring affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children.

Source: The Indian Express

Mains Question:

Q. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in addressing food insecurity in India. (150 Words).