Challenges to Food Subsidy Delivery

There are various challenges that are faced in relation to Food Subsidies and their implementation in using the Public Distribution system. Most of the challenges associated with it are:

Public Distribution System and Leakages

Leakages estimated in 2011 in Public Distribution System was around 47% and the reasons are as listed below:

  1. Damages in food grains during transportation.
  2. Pilferage of the food items.
  3. Diversification of food grains to some non-beneficiaries at a fair which is at a fair price shop by the issue of fraud cards.
  4. Exclusion of some people from the entitled food grains but not in the beneficiary list.

Food Security in India

Food Security in India: Food Security and its implementation is an important aspect of the Government of India for attaining food security for all its citizens. The article gives us an idea about food subsidies, Public Distribution systems, and the challenges faced in ensuring food security for all in India.

India has experienced tremendous economic growth in the Past few years. India is still the fastest-growing economy in the world. Nevertheless, poverty and food insecurity in India are still the concerning areas for India. We know that Food is considered as a basic need for the growth and development of the individual.

In this article, you have covered food security, its importance, Laws on Food Security in India and more.

Food Security in India

Table of Content

  • What is Food Security
  • Important Statistics of Food Security in India
  • Laws on Food Security in India
  • Food Security Programmes of India
  • Implementation of Food Subsidy in India
  • Department of Food and Public Distribution
  • Challenges to Food Subsidy Delivery
  • Challenges to Food Security
  • Solutions to Problems in Food Subsidy Delivery
  • International Organisations Ensuring Food Security
  • Food Security In India – FAQs

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What is Food Security

Food security has a different meaning as it is something more than getting two square meals. It means accessibility, availability, and affordability of food to all the people at all times whenever there is a shortage of food or crops then the poor household is the most vulnerable to food insecurity because it is dependent on the public distribution system. Dimensions of food security are,...

Important Statistics of Food Security in India

Food security is one of the major concerns of India as most parts of India face food insecurity. Following are some important statistics on food security in India:...

Laws on Food Security in India

The parliament of India, for providing the Right to Food for every citizen, enacted the legislation in the year 2013, which came to be known as the National Food Security Act of 2013. This Act is also referred to as the Right to Food Act, and this Act helps in seeking subsidized food grains for over two-thirds of the population of India. Food security refers to the foundation on which the famous National Food Security Act 2013 has been implemented in India....

Food Security Programmes of India

The important steps which are taken for the food security programs of India are as follows:...

Implementation of Food Subsidy in India

Over the years, we can find that the spending on food subsidies has increased, but the ratio of people who were below the poverty line seems to have decreased. The food subsidy is implemented through the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution....

Department of Food and Public Distribution

The Department of Food and Public Distribution has been allocated an amount of Rs. 2,42,836 crores and the objectives of this department are for ensuring Food security through the actions of following:...

Food Subsidy

Food subsidy is mostly calculated as the difference between the economic cost of procuring the food grains and their Central Issue Price. The Department of Food and Public Distribution is given the food subsidy to the Food Corporation of India and states. These bodies procure food grains from the farmers and are known as Minimum Support Prices(MSP)....

Challenges to Food Subsidy Delivery

There are various challenges that are faced in relation to Food Subsidies and their implementation in using the Public Distribution system. Most of the challenges associated with it are:...

Challenges to Food Security

Climate Change: Farming is becoming more difficult due to rising temperatures and unreliable rainfall. Climate change affects not just crops, but also cattle, forests, fisheries, and aquaculture, and can have serious social and economic implications, such as lower incomes, destroyed livelihoods, trade disruptions, and negative health effects. Access to isolated regions is limited: Tribal tribes have experienced substantial economic backwardness as a result of living in remote, harsh terrains and practicing subsistence farming. Increasing rural-to-urban migration, as well as a significant informal sector, has resulted in the unplanned rise of slums that lack basic health and hygiene amenities, inadequate housing, and increased food insecurity. Overcrowding, poverty, a lack of education, and gender inequality are all factors. Food distribution through public distribution channels is insufficient (PDS i.e. Public Distribution System).  Non-ownership of a below-poverty line: (BPL) status excludes deserving beneficiaries of the subsidy, as the threshold for determining a household’s BPL status is arbitrary and varies from state to state. Bio-fuels: As the bio-fuel industry has grown, the amount of land utilized to grow food crops has decreased. Food may be used as a weapon in conflict, with foes cutting off the food supply to gain ground. Crops might be damaged as well during a fight. Unmonitored nutrition programs: Although there are a lot of nutrition-related programs planned in the country, they are not being adequately executed....

Solutions to Problems in Food Subsidy Delivery

The following are important solutions for addressing the problems which are associated with PDS:...

International Organisations Ensuring Food Security

Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO): Established in 1945 and the headquarters was in Rome, Italy. It was the specialized agency that leads international efforts for the reduction of hunger and improved nutrition and food security. World Food Programme (WEP): One of the largest humanitarian organizations which address hunger and also promotion of food security, in Rome, Italy. World Bank: It was first established in 1994 and the headquarters is situated in Washington....

Food Security In India – FAQs

1. What is important for food security?...