The Right to Food

The issue of hunger and under-nutrition is one of the most crucial and emotive areas in the development space. It is directly linked to the right to life, a fundamental human right enshrined in the Indian Constitution and perhaps all the conceptions of human rights. As a nation, India has many things going for it - a fast growing economy, a vibrant democracy (at least functionally), a young population – and yet, it has failed to perform on this front. The latest National Family Health Survey (2006) showed that the child under-nutrition rate in India is 46%, almost double that of sub-Saharan Africa, which is economically poorer than India. Needless to say, the phenomenon is complex and multi-factorial, arising from various social, political and economic conditions. Blame has to be shared by the deep-rooted patriarchy, wide-spread poverty, poor implementation of government programmes (especially ICDS and PDS), and various other factors that interact in many ways to produce this dismal result. There is no simple solution to the problem, but the sheer availability and access to food is a central concern. As the Indian lawmakers begin to draw up the legislative framework for the ‘right to food’, it is important that we learn from the experiences of other nations, while addressing the various causes that are more or less unique to us. This article summarises many of the interesting international experiences, which making some important recommendations for India’s lawmakers. Written by a seasoned campaigner, the article is a good read.

It may not be inappropriate to say that, unlike many other issues like healthcare and education, food and nutrition security never quite found a critical mass of advocates among the powers that be (in civil society or in state), and never really witnessed a very favorable policy environment. Even the hunger/under-nutrition deaths in places like Melghat (Maharashtra) didn’t quite lead to the systemic changes that they should have. But, now the tide seems to be turning. The issue seems to have found advocates like the UPA chairperson, the PMO, and even some forces with the cabinet and the planning commission. The honorable Supreme Court has been responding with unparalleled detail and pro activeness to the legal activism on this issue for years, leading to many prescriptions for the executive branch of the government. Still, this is just a beginning as far as the legislature is concerned. There is a long way to go before we fully legislate and ensure sound implementation within the legislative framework.