Steps Towards Achieving Right to Food in India- An Analysis on Government Initiative

Abstract

Food is the basic human necessity and without adequate food people cannot lead a healthy life. The international organizations have already recognized right food as human right. The Sustainable Development Goal of 2030 adopted by the United Nations vowed to make the world free of hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. India being the signatory of International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and member of the United Nations has obligations to eradicate hunger, poverty, malnutrition to ensure human rights of every citizen. Besides Constitutional provisions, the government of India has taken legal measures to ensure right to food and food security of the people in India. The National Food Security Act of 2013 is the most vital instrument for such purpose. There are plethora of schemes and policies adopted by the government starting from independence of the country till day. The 2023 Report of Global Hunger Index placed India in 111th position where 125 countries of the world were in the list. Though government of India termed it as erroneous, still there requires study on implementation of food policy in India. Therefore it becomes very pertinent to study the strategy and measures adopted by the government to ensure right to food and eradicate hunger. In this paper the steps taken by the government of India including state of Assam and the national strategy for implementation of right to food has been analyzed. Also has focused on international support to achieve right to food for everyone.