PERSPECTIVES CONCERNING HUNGER AND FOOD INSECURITIES IN INDIA - A POSITION REVIEW WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT, 2013

Abstract Hunger, malnutrition and poverty potently blemish the development statistics of the world across. Despite unanimously avowing to wipe out the existent insecurities concerning hunger and food from the global scenario, the international community has failed to achieve the same. Though food is the most basic of the human rights requisite for human survival, it is still a luxury for millions of people across the globe, deplorably undernourished and malnourished. Based upon the indicators of undernourishment, underweight children and under-five mortality rate, Global Hunger Index, 2013 (GHI) and FAO statistics, 2014 establish that 842 million people or more than one in eight persons were chronically undernourished across the world in 2011-13. As per the World Bank Report, 2013, the credit of high and volatile global food prices goes to the increased frequency and intensity of droughts, war, political instability and poverty. Further, a quarter of the world's hungry i.e., 210 million are domiciled in India. Despite being heralded as one of the fastest growing economies and stunning human food production, India still dawdles many of the developing countries in the GHI and hunger, food insecurity and scarcity situation is grim in the country. Dichotomies of excess food grains production, large scale subsidized food distribution mechanism characterize the scenario along with huge wastage and millions of hungry families, starvation staring as a tangible and pressing threat. Right to food and food security is the need of the hour. In PUCL vs. Union of India & others [In the Supreme Court of India, Civil Original Jurisdiction, Writ Petition (Civil) No.196 of 2001], Supreme Court encompassed right to food within the fundamental right to life with human dignity u/ Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. With the enactment of the National Food Security Act, 2013 for ensuring provision of food grains to the priority households at subsidized prices through the food security networks, the hitherto moral right to food stands transformed into a legal and fundamental right. Amidst this scenario, the present research paper conceptualizes hunger, food security and relevant terms; examines the international approach towards food security and hunger; analyses the gravity of hunger and food insecurity in India and the factors responsible and critically focuses on the subsidized public distribution network operating in India. It analyses the National Food Security Act, 2013 and endeavors to arrive at the desirable course of action for wiping out hunger and food insecurities prevailing in the country.