A Decade of India’s Food Security Law and Future Challenges : A Study

Abstract

The discussion surrounding food security rights in India is not new, but it does have a unique aspect at the moment due to the stage it is at. The study project is an attempt to handle this fascinating topic within the many national and international legal contexts. The study posits that the current legal framework, policies, programs, and initiatives are insufficient to effectively tackle the problem of food security in India. This research study attempts to concentrate on the illiterate and vulnerable population and raises the crucial issue of subsistence for debate. Food is our strength source, and constrained access to food impacts our well-being in numerous ways. Approximately one billion people worldwide suffer from malnutrition as a result of not receiving enough food to meet their basic needs. 1 Having enough food is one of the fundamental rights of all people. It is essential for the fulfilment of all human rights that the right to food be acknowledged and the “right to life” and the “right to health” are intrinsically linked to the “right to food.” State governments celebrate their accomplishment of achieving independence in food production and accessible reserved food in warehouses, but the condition of food security is still critical on a national level. India, which is celebrating its 77th year of independence, is poised to make amazing strides and reach new heights in terms of population, technology, and the economy. Nutrition and health indicators, however, continue to be major concerns. According to the Global Hunger Index 2022, 19.3% of children in India are malnourished. While rates of stunting and underweight have decreased, the prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 (53%) may be among the highest in the world. India may take pride in a plethora of legislation, programs, and initiatives that were designed to address the problems related to child malnutrition. One such achievement that established the framework for a rights-based strategy for food and nutrition security in India was the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. Despite producing some of the world’s highest agricultural yields, India has one of the highest rates of undernourishment in the world. There are several explanations for why this paradox exists. India’s struggle to address undernourishment led to a drop in its ranking from 115th to 121st place out of 163 countries between 2019 and 2022 in the UN’s 2003 “Social Development Goals.” This placed India behind not only other BRICS nations but also poorer neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, India faced a significant food security crisis. The lockdowns resulted in widespread income loss, making it difficult for many families to access adequate food. This situation posed a serious challenge to ensuring food availability for all. For many years, the Indian government has been deeply concerned about issues related to food security. In this article, we will go into great detail about the current state of food security in the nation as well as its associated challenges.