Food Security in India: A Comparative Brief Analysis Meena Vandana Phd Scholar, Department of Economics, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur Online published on 2 May, 2018. Abstract This paper examines performance, challenges, and policies in food security in India. India has a “serious” hunger problem and ranks the third highest in all of Asia; only Pakistan and Afghanistan are ranked worse. At 31.4 score in GHI, India is at the high end of the ‘serious’ category, and is one of the main factors pushing South Asia to the category of worst performing region on the GHI this year(2017), followed closely by Africa South of the Sahara. Food & Nutrition Security need to be given high priority and efforts to increase production and economic accessibility needed to be addressed by technological innovations, investments in irrigation, creating rural infrastructure and raising rural employment opportunities. India has government programmes such as TPDS including AAY, nutrition programmes like mid-day meals, and ICDS to improve food and nutrition security. NREGS and self employment programmes can also increase access to food and nutrition. Social protection programmes in India helped in improving incomes and providing protection from shocks for the population, particularly the poor. However, there are a number of gaps and inefficiencies in social protection programmes. The efficiency and transparency improvements in the PDS system will make it one of the best-run pro-poor schemes in the country. This paper suggests the structure of poverty alleviation programmes should suit the specific needs of poor communities, especially in rural areas. Also this paper based on a comparative analysis with neighbor countries and state wise. There is a strong correlation between a higher level of gender equality and lower level of child mortality. India could take a leadership role in designing new trade disciplines in the WTO that takes advantage of imports and new market access opportunities for its agriculture sector in the developed world to increase its food security and the welfare of its farmers. Top Keywords Food security, GHI, malnutrition, PDS, NFHS, hunger, nutrition. Top |