The basic premise of food security is that people should not sleep hungry. However, it is evident that this is hardly enough, says Reetika Khera, Associate Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi).

When we discuss food and nutrition security, it is important to remember that even from the government’s perspective, the conceptualisation should begin from the mother’s womb. It has been a long-standing challenge. 

The talk provides an overview of the welfare provisions for ensuring food and nutrition — from the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme, Public Distribution System (PDS), and maternity entitlements (through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana {PMMVY}).

This talk also highlights some of the emerging challenges to ensuring food and nutrition security. This includes old issues such as inadequate budgetary provisions and corruption as well as some newer challenges (for example, the role of technology and corporate lobbies in India’s welfare provisions). It also dwells briefly on what, if anything, has changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reetika also addresses questions raised by the students regarding moving away from wheat and rice to be more inclusive of people’s food choices. 

Watch the recording of the colloquium below: 

About the Speaker

Reetika Khera is a development economist. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). 

She was an Associate Professor in the Economics and Public Systems group at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) from 2018 to 2020.