Food Security in India: Performance Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Food security is a fundamental human right. The right to food is one of the basic human rights which is closely linked to Right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, 1950. The denial of one right inevitably influences the right of other, but also the inherent relationship between rule of law and protection of all human rights, including the right to food. Ensuring food security should be an extraordinary significance for a nation like India having 21.9 per cent people living below poverty line and about one-half of all children are malnourished. In 2007, the United Nations (UN) estimated about 850 million people worldwide who suffer from malnutrition. It also estimated that African and Asian continents have 799 million undernourished people, most of them living in developing countries. The main cause of this problem is food security. India has over 120 million people and the second most populous country in the world. To feed this population farmers are working very hard for centuries. fruits and vegetables is relatively low. Until now, specific efforts are not been taken to improve the production and distribution of vegetables at an affordable cost in both urban and rural areas. Food insecurity is a condition, where very less food is available for the household member. In such situation, the food intake of household members is reduced and their normal eating pattern is disrupted because the household lacked money and other resources for food.