Food security law

Food is the most essential requirement for life and the level of nutrition determines the standard of generations of citizens. In a country like India, where the majority of its citizens live below the poverty line and a third of them are malnourished resulting in high infant and mother mortality, ensuring food security should be the imminent duty of the government.

Article 47 of the Indian Constitution provides the duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and the standard of living and to improve public health. It states: 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 and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.

Proposed food security law

The proposed food security bill aims at providing 35 kgs of food grains to priority families and 20 kgs to other households at a price not exceeding the fifty percent of the minimum support prices for grains (rice, wheat and millets). It aims at providing to the priority households rice at the rate of Rs 3/kg and wheat at Rs 2/kg, pulses at Rs 20/kg and oils at Rs 35/kg.

Shortcomings

The proposed bill does not ensure sufficient nutrients as the amount fixed does not qualify to satisfy the nutritional requirements of an average family of five. Further, the requirements of fats, vitamins, proteins are not adequately covered.

Another drawback comes in the implementation of the scheme. Corruption and failed public distribution system are evident of the fact that the intended beneficiaries may not be able to benefit from it.

Providing food security further requires that the production is also secured. Before, implementing the scheme, it is essential to see that agriculture is ensured. With droughts and floods damaging the crops, the government has to take a positive step in ensuring that it has the food grains needed for distribution. A second green revolution may be required but this time with the use of organic fertilisers and avoiding chemical pesticides and fertilisers.