Right to Food Campaign

StructureI Overview of Main PointsII Problems in DefinitionsIII Provisions for Food Security1.Entitlements under the PDS2.Entitlements for children, pregnant and

lactating mothers3.Entitlements of special groups4.People living in starvationIV Implementation Issues regarding the PDS

V Grievance Redressal MechanismVI Issue of Over-centralisationVII Transparency and AccountabilityVIII Provisions for Advancing Food Security

Overview of Main pointsAbsence of provisions related to agriculture- Bill

needs to address production, decentralised procurement, storage and distribution related issues

Lacunae regarding definition of nutritional security. Need to ensure access to clean drinking water, sanitation, health services and safe food

Distribution of food grains is targetted. Exclusion errors. Needs to be universal along with affirmative action.

A grievance redressal mechanism that is decentralised and effective needed

Too centralised- no role for the local governments and panchayati raj institutions

Challenging Basic Premises- Problems in Definitions‘Food grains’ need to refer to pulse and oils as

well, apart from rice, wheat and other coarse grains

Definition of ‘food security’ not comprehensive enough. Needs to be ‘food security exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” [Source: Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realisation of the Right to Adequate Food, FAO Council]

Need to remove the provision for ready to eat meals and have a provision for ‘locally produced and cooked meal’ instead

Bill also needs to come into force within two years of the passage of the Act and not as and when the Central Government might decide

Provisions for Food Security

Entitlements under the PDSThe PDS entitlements need to be made universalThere should be no conditions like linking the

entitlements of the general households to the reforms in the PDS

Affirmative action needed for de-notified tribes, salt pan workers, single women, dalits, disabled and socially excluded groups

Expand scope of PDS to include millets, pulses and oilseeds

Delink the issue prices from the MSPs to ensure farmers are not affected by un-remunerative prices

Entitlements for Children, Pregnant and Lactating MothersUniversalisation of the ICDSImprove the quality of services under the ICDS-

norms for infrastructure, supplementary nutrition, training and capacity building in re the anganwadi workers

Manage malnutrition holistically- growth monitoring, additional nutritional supplements, nutritional counselling, health care and appropriate treatment

Universal maternity entitlements at minimum wages which are inflation indexed

Explicit support for breast feeding

Creche facilities for children of working women

Include adolescent girls within the ambit of the Act

Midday meals to be made available to out of school children as well

Ensure meals are not denied to children on any grounds

Incorporate safeguards against commercial interests and promote decentralisation

Entitlements of Special GroupsClause 38 of the Bill gives special focus to

the needs to vulnerable groups in the hill and tribal areas

The mechanisms by which the entitlements may be claimed(in re migrant families) and the entitlements themselves (in re destitute and homeless) need to clearly specified

Include pensions for aged, single women and disabled as entitlements

Persons living in starvationDefine ‘starvation’ with greater clarity-

currently ‘prolonged involuntary deprivation of food which threatens the survival of the persons’ which leaves a wide latitude for interpretation

Include principles of a Starvation Protocol in the Bill

Implementation Issues regarding the PDSProblem of identification of the priority and

general households. Linked to the earlier argument as to how the division should be gotten rid of

Delete the provision which allows for cash transfers. Food security allowance to be resorted only in the last instance, clear instances when it might be used

Grievance Redressal MechanismCreate a statement of obligations and citizen’s

charter containing the duties and commitments towards citizens. Put it in the public domain.

Appoint a grievance redressal officer at the panchayat or municipal level

Set up independent block level facilitation centresThe District Grievance Redressal Officer needs to

hold open court hearing and be empowered to impose penalty and compensation. Bill should specify time limit within which the DGRO needs to act.

The time limits for the State and the National Commissions to dispose of cases also to be included

Empower the Commissions also to impose penalties and award compensations

Issue of Over-centralisationThe Bill confers sweeping powers to the

central government, including,- Specifying when different provisions of the

Act will come into force- Prescribing mandatory guidelines for all

relevant schemes- Prescribing the powers of the National Food

Commission

Gram panchayats and local bodies have a limited role. Should,

- Monitor the implementation of entitlements - Conduct social audits – open, transparent and

inclusive- Identify the people living in starvation

Transparency and AccountabilityEnsure access to all documents to persons

who seek itInstitute SMS alert systems and PDS

telephone linesVigilance committees at the shop levelBring all information related to the PDS

within the ambit of Section 4 of the RTI Act[]

Provisions for Advancing Food SecurityThe objectives mentioned in Schedule III

need to be converted to entitlements and not left to be ‘progressively realised’

Ensure access and control over agricultural resources to agricultural families

Decentralised system of procurement neededNutritional security- food absorption

dependant- safe and adequate drinking water and sanitation

Thank you!