Democracy and Public Food Distribution System: A Critical Study of Food Security in India

Abstract

For India food security is non-negotiable. Governments of all developing nations have a legitimate obligation and moral commitment towards food and livelihood security of hundreds of millions of their hungry and poor. Public procurement at administered prices is often the only method of supporting farmers and building stocks for food security in developing countries. Need of public stockholding of food grains to ensure food security must be respected. (India’s union cabinet minister in charge of commerce and industry, Mr. Anand Sharma’s address at the plenary session of the ninth ministerial World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting at Bali in December 2013).

The question of food security is a global imperative issue, predominantly among developing countries, in the wake of globalization. From the late 19^th century, food was at the heart of secular interventions to improve the welfare of the population of India. Indian constitution played a fundamental role in the realization of the right to food. In light of the above statement my paper is a simple effort to highlight the critical role of state in strengthening food security and ensuring the availability and access of food to poorer households through different mechanisms.