Q17. How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India?

Model Answer:

Introduction

The discourse on hunger in India often emphasises food availability as the principal cause of hunger. While food scarcity is a factor, it is not the sole reason behind hunger. Hunger is more complex, influenced by ineffective human development policies that affect income, education, health, and social inequality. Recognizing these issues is crucial for developing a holistic approach to combating hunger.

Body

Food Availability vs. Human Development:

  • Agricultural Productivity: India has achieved self-sufficiency in food production, with large buffer stocks maintained by the government. Despite this, hunger persists, indicating that availability alone cannot address the issue.
  • Distribution Inefficiency: While food is available, the Public Distribution System (PDS) suffers from inefficiency, leakage, and corruption, leading to inequitable access to food, especially for marginalised groups.
  • Income Inequality: Many people lack the purchasing power to access food. Economic policies that fail to uplift low-income households exacerbate hunger, as even when food is available, it is inaccessible to those in poverty.
  • Malnutrition: Hunger is not just about calories but also about the quality of nutrition. Poor diets result from inadequate healthcare, sanitation, and education, factors linked to ineffective human development policies.

Human Development Policies and Hunger:

  • Health and Sanitation: Poor health and sanitation, particularly in rural areas, lead to malnutrition. Open defecation, inadequate access to clean drinking water, and lack of health services exacerbate malnourishment among children, contributing to hunger. The Swachh Bharat Mission aims to address sanitation, but challenges remain in effective implementation.
  • Education: Lack of education, especially among women, hampers family nutritional choices and child-rearing practices. Programs like the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) aim to provide nutrition to children, but insufficient attention to broader educational outcomes limits its impact on long-term hunger reduction.
  • Employment and Livelihood: Policies focused on employment, such as MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act), aim to provide income security, which in turn should enhance food access. However, delays in payment and corruption have diluted its impact on reducing hunger.
  • Social Protection: While schemes like the National Food Security Act (NFSA) attempt to address food distribution, weak governance and lack of accountability hinder effective delivery. Hunger persists due to gaps in policy implementation rather than food scarcity.

Need for a Broader Focus:

  • Multidimensional Approach: Hunger is a multidimensional issue, involving health, education, social equity, and governance. The focus needs to shift from merely ensuring food availability to ensuring access through comprehensive human development programs.
  • Human Development Index (HDI): India ranks low on the HDI, reflecting broader failings in areas like education and health, which are essential to addressing hunger. Only when these are improved will India tackle the root causes of hunger.
  • Targeted Schemes: Government programs like the National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan) are steps in the right direction, addressing maternal and child health, but their effectiveness depends on better integration with other policies such as sanitation and education.

Conclusion

‍Focusing solely on food availability as the cause of hunger detracts from the underlying issues tied to ineffective human development policies. To eradicate hunger, India needs to address the broader socio-economic factors that influence hunger, such as income inequality, poor health infrastructure, and lack of education. Only through a comprehensive, human development-centred approach will India effectively reduce hunger and improve the overall well-being of its population.

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