Are the Non-poor Households Nutritionally Secure? An Assessment from NSSO Unit Level Data in India Between 2004–2005 and 2011–2012

Abstract

This article analyses the status of nutrition in relation to the status of poverty among the socio-economic groups in both rural as well as in urban India. It also examines the role of public distribution system (PDS) along with other socio-economic factors in the reduction of nutrition insecurity of poor as well as non-poor households on the basis of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) unit level data of Consumer Expenditure Survey of the latest rounds. It was found that the incidence of poverty as well as nutrition insecurity has declined significantly in the country during the years 2004–2005 and 2011–2012. However, as much as 24.4 per cent non-poor households in 2011–2012 remained nutritionally insecure. They were higher among the non-poor upper caste households and in the urban areas. The latter spent more on food items, evident in the growth rate of monthly per capita food consumption expenditure (MPFCE). But higher nutrition insecurity because of lower value of calorie accompanied diversification of consumption pattern among these households in favour of protein and fat items. Notwithstanding this trend, level of education, food consumption expenditure, PDS benefits and cultivable land have favourable impact on the nutritional status of non-poor households.