Challenges to Food Security in India – A Critical Analysis

Abstract

One of the following issues encountered by the Indian poor masses since centuries together is food scarcity and food problem. India, after attainment of independence gave top priority to growing more food grains and to that effect the planners of India have given top priority to agriculture production and it allied fields. Various schemes and programmes have been initiated by the policy makers, but still there were plethora problems and impediments in the effective implementation of these schemes. After having entered into twenty first century, India no doubt achieved various successes in science and technological fields; but remained dwarf in meeting the dare food needs of the people who are at below poverty line. Huge budget allocations were made for the last eleven five year plans but the target of providing stomach full, day in and day out supply of food has not reached to the satisfactory level. In view of addressing the issue of food problem and providing the provision of Right to Food to each and every human being in our country, the UPA Government has enacted a novel Act entitled “Indian National Food Security Act – 2013 which is also termed as ‘Right to Food Act’September 12, 2013 (NFSA) giving retrospective effect from July 5, 2013. The Act basically aimed at providing subsidized food grains to as many as 1.4 billion people. To assess the effectiveness and impact of this Act is premature to comment. However there are certain problems and issues to be addressed in the course of implementation of this Act. In this paper in attempt is made to highlight the problems and issues veiled in the Act and present remedial solutions to make this Act, more effective and productive oriented.