Food Security News - India Together

DIRECT BENEFIT TRANSFER
Ration to cash, a harsh transition

In September 2015, the central government announced a pilot programme of providing direct cash transfers in place of food grains in an attempt to reform the Public Distribution System. Centre for Equity Studies (CES) recently conducted a survey of this pilot programme in Chandigarh. Shikha Nehra of CES reports the key findings from the survey.

Government Poverty

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NUTRITION FOR CHILDREN

Upholding the rights of a child On Constitution Day, E S Ramamurthy describes how our government is failing in its primary duties of raising the level of nutrition and the improvement of public health as prescribed in our Constitution and thereby creating a nation of malnourished children.

Children

MALNUTRITION AMONG CHILDREN

Malnutrition - A national disgrace When malnutrition among children is widespread, the government is slashing funds allocated to the mid day meal scheme that covers most of the vulnerable children. Questioning this approach of the government, E S Ramamurthy started a petition to raise the funding for mid-day meals to cover minimum nutritional needs of a child.

Children Child Health

MAGIC OF WADI

Wadi: A model for sustainable tribal livelihood Amongst the various models for sustainable livelihoods being tried and tested in the tribal areas of India, the Wadi model has shown a lot of promise. Abhijeet Mohanty, Kieran Robson and Rosie Clarkson, find out why and how the Wadi model is doing in the tribal areas of Koraput district of Odisha.

Agriculture Adivasis

CLIMATE CHANGE POLITICS

Looking beyond ‘Chindia’s’ common cause on climate The joint statement by India and China on climate change at the end of PM Modi’s recent tour of the country has expectedly created considerable hype. Darryl D’Monte takes a balanced view of its import and the real challenges for India in the face of global climate politics.

Climate Government

POVERTY

Rethinking food security and hunger A recent report from IFPRI indicates concrete progress by India in reducing hunger and malnutrition, while many experts continue to stress the unsatisfactory outcomes under GDP-driven growth. Prahlad Shekhawat calls for a new approach to address the real problems that lie somewhere in between.

Economy Government Opinions Poverty

LAND, FOOD AND BIODIVERSITY

Why the land acquisition law is a threat to several others The government’s push to the amended land acquisition law overlooks provisions in other acts that address closely related issues such as food security and conservation of biodiversity, writes Shalini Bhutani.

Bio Diversity Government Land Laws

SHANTA KUMAR COMMITTEE REPORT

Is this committee overestimating leakages in ration to curb the food security act? The report of a high level committee under BJP MP Shanta Kumar proposes radical restructuring of the PDS and reduced coverage of the food security act. But is the estimate of leakages in the report flawed in itself? Shambhu Ghatak presents alternative findings.

Public Funds Government

CHILD MALNUTRITION

A sudden cloud over Maharashtra’s nutritional progress Data from the recently released District Level Household and Facility Survey shows disheartening figures for nutritional indicators, when compared to the last national survey. Shambhu Ghatak delves deeper into the state’s nutrition records and also tracks where others stand.

Child health Economy

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Farming for self-reliance in Kalahandi The struggle to feed themselves and their families round the year drives millions of farmers in remote rural areas to desperate measures. Abhijit Mohanty’s story shows how sustainable agriculture has helped farmers in Odisha’s backward Kalahandi district pull themselves out of poverty and food insecurity.

Organic Agriculture Livelihood Odisha

DEVELOPMENT DEFICIT

“We don’t need toilets, give us electricity and water” Total Sanitation Campaign, MGNREGS and other government schemes are unheard of among villagers at Dinesh Nagar, Assam who live with a perennial lack of food, pure water, and health amenities. Nilotpal Bhattacharjee wonders if they will ever find deliverance from despair.

Government Poverty Human Rights

AGRICULTURAL DECLINE

Rest in peace, food self-sufficiency Ironically at a time when food shortage is being widely perceived as a potential global concern in the near future, policymakers seem to be doing everything that would take agriculture further down the path of ruin. Devinder Sharma highlights the findings of a recent NSSO report to substantiate that.

Agriculture Devinder Sharma Ground Reality

RECLAIMING THE COMMONS

Food security, courtesy Odisha's tribal women In 25 villages across Rayagada district of Odisha, tribal village women have reclaimed the denuded commons and achieved a remarkable turnaround in food security and livelihoods through eco-friendly alternatives to shifting cultivation. Abhijit Mohanty highlights a few successes of the project.

Organic Agriculture Environment

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Amitabha Basu

Retired Scientist
National Physical
Laboratory
India Together reader

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