Social Inclusiveness of National Food Security Bill: Issues and Concerns

By : Dilip Diwakar G, Nitin Tagade, Sandeep Sharma

Page No: 292-302

Abstract
The National Food Security Bill (NFSB) came at a point when nutrition based deprivation of not only poor, but also majority of the marginalised communities, especially the SCs is at peril. The main thrust of the bill is built on the existing ICDS, MDM and PDS programmes, however, the existing macro level data and literature clearly shows that nutrition level of children has not improved much in the last two decades. Especially, under nutrition is high among certain social groups such as SCs and STs. But there is no specific mention in the NFSB on addressing the concerns of the marginalised communities. This paper examines the existing utilisation gaps among SC and ST, using the available NFHS and NSSO data. This paper also studies the caste based discrimination in utilising the ICDS, MDM and PDS programmes and proposes measure to bring in social inclusiveness in the NFSB.

Authors :
Dilip Diwakar G : Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala,
Nitin Tagade : Assistant Professor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
Sandeep Sharma : Senior Research Associate, Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/PROD.2019.60.03.7