Right To Free Food

World Food Day, observed annually on October 16, serves as a vital reminder of the global commitment to achieving food and nutritional security.

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• Food Insecurity: According to the FAO’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI report), approximately 2.33 billion people worldwide experience moderate to severe food insecurity. 

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About “Right to Food”

• Definition of Right to Food: The “Right to Food” broadly means that every individual has the right to access sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. 
• Recognition of ‘Right to Food’ in International Human Rights Instruments: The right to food is recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of  Human Rights and is enshrined in the 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 
• Key Elements of the Right to Food: 
  • Availability: Availability means food should be available through farming, animal husbandry, fishing, or gathering etc, and should also be available for purchase in markets and shops.
  • Accessibility
    • Economic Accessibility: Food should be affordable, allowing individuals to meet their dietary needs without sacrificing other basic necessities.
    • Physical Accessibility: Food access must be guaranteed for vulnerable groups (children, elderly, disabled) and those in remote areas or crisis situations.
  • Adequacy: Food must meet dietary needs based on factors like age, health, and cultural preferences. It should be safe for consumption, free from harmful substances, and culturally acceptable to recipients.

India’s Approach to Right to Food

• No Explicit Provision: The Indian Constitution does not have any explicit provision regarding the right to food.
• Extension of the Right to Life: The fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the  Indian Constitution can be interpreted to include the right to life with human dignity which may include Right to Food.
• Constitutional Provisions
  • Article 39(a): Directs the State to secure the right to adequate livelihood for all citizens.
  • Article 47: Establishes the State’s duty to improve nutrition and living standards as a primary responsibility.

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Measures to Implement Right to Food in India

• Green Revolution: The Green Revolution in India, spearheaded by M.S. Swaminathan, transformed Indian agriculture in the 1960s and 70s. 
  • It introduced high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, modern irrigation techniques, and chemical fertilisers, significantly boosting food grain production and making India self-sufficient in food.
• Buffer Stocks : The Food Corporation of India (FCI) maintains buffer stocks of food grains to stabilise food security. 
• Public Distribution System (PDS): The Public Distribution System (PDS) is a food security system that was established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to distribute food and non-food items to India’s poor at subsidised rates. 
• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: The “Right to Food” approach of the FAO encouraged the then government to pass the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013.
  • The National Food Security Act (NFSA) shifted the approach of Food Security from Welfare to Rights Based Approach.
  • Coverage: NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population under:
    • Antyodaya Anna Yojana: It constitutes the poorest-of-the-poor, who are entitled to receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
    • Priority Households (PHH): Households covered under PHH category are entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month.
    • Overall, NFSA caters to 67% of the total population.
  • Head of Household for Ration Cards: The eldest woman in the household, aged 18 years or above, is designated as the head of the household for issuing ration cards.
  • Special Provisions for Children: The act ensures that children aged 6 months to 14 years receive free nutritious meals through Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres, commonly known as Anganwadi Centres.

Concerns Associated with the Implementation of “Right To Free Food” in India

• Economic Concerns: 
  • Economic Irrationality: Distributing free food to over 800 million people is economically irrational, especially when a significant portion of the population should ideally work to earn their food.
  • Budgetary Strain: Food subsidies are the largest in the Union budget, which diverts funds away from more productive investments in  agri-R&D, precision agriculture, micro-nutrients, women’s education and sanitation.
    • These investments are almost 10 times more effective in ensuring the food and nutritional security of our people than free food and highly subsidised fertilisers and power. 
  • Corruption and Leakages: According to Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), about 25-30% of food and fertiliser subsidies do not reach intended beneficiaries due to inefficiencies and corruption. 
    • Overall losses from leakages could be as high as 40-50%, defeating the purpose of the “Right to Food.”
• Social Concerns:
  • Dependency on Subsidies: The “Right to Free Food” on such a large scale may create a culture of dependency among the population, where individuals rely on government provisions rather than seeking stable employment and income-generating opportunities. 
    • This undermines efforts towards self-sufficiency and can perpetuate poverty cycles.
  • Targeting Inefficiencies: The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was initially intended to cover two-thirds of the population, which raises concerns about the appropriateness of providing heavily subsidised food to such a large segment of society.
  • Questionable Rationale for Free Food Distribution: The NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index claims that the poverty rate has dropped from 29.13% in 2013-14 to 11.28% in 2022-23. 
    • If poverty is decreasing, there may be less need for such extensive food distribution,  emphasising that individuals should work to earn their basic food needs.
• Political Factors: Providing free food to a vast majority of the population is viewed as a vote-catching tactic rather than a genuine effort to ensure food security.

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Solutions to Enhance the Effectiveness of the Right to Food in India

• Improved Targeting and Beneficiary Identification
  • Dynamic Eligibility Criteria: Update poverty metrics regularly to reflect changing socioeconomic conditions and ensure that the beneficiaries are accurately identified. Example: A total of 2.33 crore ration cards have been deleted or cancelled for improving accuracy in beneficiary records.
  • Use of Technology: Implement biometric identification and digital records to minimise inclusion and exclusion errors in beneficiary lists. Example: Integration of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the Aadhaar system.
• Addressing Corruption and Leakages: Implement strict penalties for corruption and mismanagement within the PDS to deter fraudulent activities.
• Strengthening Infrastructure: There is a need to invest in better storage infrastructure to reduce food wastage and ensure that food grains remain fresh until they reach beneficiaries.
  • Enhance logistics and transportation systems to ensure timely delivery of food grains, especially in remote areas.
• Digitisation of the Agri-Food System
  • Digital Platforms: Develop digital platforms for better data management, real-time tracking of food distribution, and improving supply chain efficiency.
  • Farm Management Tools: Promote the use of digital tools for farmers to access information on best practices, market prices, and weather forecasts, enhancing productivity and income.
• Rationalising Subsidies: Reform the existing food and fertiliser subsidy regime to make it more targeted and efficient, ensuring that subsidies reach the most vulnerable populations.
• Investment in Productive Sectors: Redirect savings from subsidy reforms towards investments in agricultural research, infrastructure, and sustainable farming practices to enhance long-term food security.

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