Food Security in India: Performance, challenges and policies

Overview

More people in South Asia are facing malnutrition than in Africa. This working paper examines established policies that affect food security measures in India. With employment programmes such as NREGS, government programmes such as TPDS including AAY, nutrition programmes like mid-day meals, and ICDS to improve food and nutrition security, this paper argues that India still requires plans to increase employment and social security for poor people. It explores the gaps in these varied government food security laws and programmes which still leave one third of India’s population lacking in basic diet diversification (including micronutrients); in women’s empowerment; in education; in health promotion; in safe drinking water and sanitation; and in the provision of basic hygiene.