Food Security Bill
27th REPORT
Article 21 of the Constitution of India provides the right to life to all the citizens of India including the Right to Food. Further, Article 47 of the Constitution, provides that the State shall regard raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which India is a signatory, also cast responsibilities on all State parties to recognize the right of everyone to adequate food. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is one of the goals under the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. In pursuance of the constitutional obligations and obligations under the international conventions, providing food security has been focus of the Government's planning and policy.
What is Food Security? Food security means availability of sufficient foodgrains to meet the domestic demand as well as access, at the individual level, to adequate quantities of food at affordable prices.
Attainment of self-sufficiency in foodgrains production at the national level has been one of the major achievements of the country. In order to address the issue of food security at the household level, the Government is implementing Targeted Public Distribution System under which subsidized foodgrains is provided to the Below Poverty Line, including Antyodaya Anna Yojana, and above poverty line households. While the Below Poverty Line households under the Targeted Public Distribution System receive thirty-five kilograms foodgrains per family per month, the allocation to Above Poverty Line households depends upon availability of foodgrains in the Central pool. Ensuring food security of the people, however, continues to be a challenge. The nutritional status of the population, and especially of women and children, also needs to be improved to enhance the quality of human
Article 21 of the Constitution of India provides the right to life to all the citizens of India including the Right to Food. Further, Article 47 of the Constitution, provides that the State shall regard raising the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Convenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which India is a signatory, also cast responsibilities on all State parties to recognize the right of everyone to adequate food. Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is one of the goals under the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. In pursuance of the constitutional obligations and obligations under the international conventions, providing food security has been focus of the Government's planning and policy.
What is Food Security? Food security means availability of sufficient foodgrains to meet the domestic demand as well as access, at the individual level, to adequate quantities of food at affordable prices.
Attainment of self-sufficiency in foodgrains production at the national level has been one of the major achievements of the country. In order to address the issue of food security at the household level, the Government is implementing Targeted Public Distribution System under which subsidized foodgrains is provided to the Below Poverty Line, including Antyodaya Anna Yojana, and above poverty line households. While the Below Poverty Line households under the Targeted Public Distribution System receive thirty-five kilograms foodgrains per family per month, the allocation to Above Poverty Line households depends upon availability of foodgrains in the Central pool. Ensuring food security of the people, however, continues to be a challenge. The nutritional status of the population, and especially of women and children, also needs to be improved to enhance the quality of human