With the budget 2016-17 round the corner what are the asks from the standpoint of food security? This year’s budget is being prepared in the wake of many parts of the country being affected by drought resulting in greater distress, hunger and starvation for a large number of people. It has been over two years since the National Food Security Act (NFSA) was passed and only recently has it begun to be implemented with seriousness in many states of the country. The NFSA aims to provide legal rights on subsidised foodgrains to 63.5 percent of the population but a lot remains to be done as regards full implementation of the act.
What should be done to improve its delivery? Should the concerns of food security be more broad-based? Should there be special agricultural and drought packages? Should the government provide adequate funds for implementation of the NFSA? A National Convention on the Union Budget 2015-16 by the Ministry of Finance at New Delhi dealt with these issues. Right to Food Campaign’s submission at the convention held on January 12, 2016 sets down the budget asks related to food and nutrition security.
The government must announce a special package for all drought-affected districts. This must include the following:
The full submission by Right to Food Campaign is attached below.