Approach 

Introduction: Briefly explain the concept of hunger and food insecurity. Substantiate with report findings.  

Body:    

Heading 1: Factors causing the issue of hunger and food insecurity: Highlight different underlying reasons for this issue.    

Heading 2: Measures needed to tackle the issue of hunger and food insecurity: Mention the measures that can be taken to counter this issue.    

Conclusion: Mention the significance of measures required to tackle the issue of hunger and food insecurity for forming an equitable society.   

Answer: Despite India achieving self-sufficiency in food production for over four decades, it does not ensure food security. The National Family Health Survey 2019-21 (NFHS-5) indicates a significant number of young children in India experiencing food insecurity including zero-food prevalence. In the 2022 Global Hunger Index, India ranks 107th out of the 121 countries.

Factors causing the issue of hunger and food insecurity

• Poverty and inequality limit access to nutritious food options, compounded by inadequate water and sanitation facilities, leading to malnutrition.
• For example: India is home to the largest number of poor people i.e., 228.9 million (Multidimensional Poverty Index 2022).
• Ineffective implementation of schemes leads to problems of exclusion of eligible beneficiaries, food inflation in deficit regions, food wastages, etc.
• For example: Lack of food-based metric in Poshan 2.0 to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme.
• Gender inequality limits food access to women within the households.
• For example: A quarter of women of reproductive age in India are undernourished (NFHS 4, 2015-16).
• Climate change and extreme weather events, causing flood and drought, affect agricultural productivity leading to hunger.
• For example: India's food production could drop 16% and number of people at the risk of hunger could increase 23% by 2030 due to climate change (IFPRI).

Measures needed to tackle the issue of hunger and food insecurity

• Promoting sustainable agriculture practices like nutrition-sensitive, climate-smart agriculture, supported by government subsidies and schemes to attain food security.
• For example: Initiatives like PM PRANAM, Eat Right India movement, etc.
• Reforming the public distribution system through digitization, expansion of food items, quality control, etc., can help enhance its reach and efficacy.
• For example: Aadhar linking and DBT are good steps.
• Increasing focus on young children and women is crucial in reducing hunger and achieving food security as these two sections are worst hit.
• For example: Realizing the full potential of ICDS scheme, Mission Indradhanush, Mission Vatsalya, etc.
• Ensuring effective implementation of existing schemes related to poverty, hunger, agriculture, etc.
• For example: Introducing food-based trackable metrics in Poshan 2.0.

India's self-sufficiency in food production is a positive step, but more needs to be done to ensure food security. The NFSA 2013 and PMGKAY have been crucial in addressing the issue, but further reforms in the PDS and poverty alleviation are necessary for sustainable progress.