This note presents the response of the Right to Food Campaign to the National Food Security Bill (NFSB) that was tabled in the Lok Sabha on 22 December 2011. While the proposed National Food Security Act presents an opportunity to rectify the entire food production and distribution system in the country in such a manner so as to ensure that every individual has access to adequate and quality nutritious food, this draft Bill reflects a very narrow vision.

This report is based on several visits to villages and slums across Karnataka and information collected under RTI by several organisations working towards eradicating malnutrition in the State and is being filed by the Advisor to the Commissioners of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of PUCL vs. UoI and Ors (Writ Petition No. 196 of 2001).

The Bill interprets food security only as distribution of cereals and cooked meals and is completely silent on other important components of food security. There is no commitment towards nutritional security which also requires assurance of other components of nutrition such as pulses and oil. Strong provisions to address child malnutrition are missing. Production, procurement (including local procurement), storage and distribution are not seen as an integrated process in order to address issues of food and nutritional security.

The central government has prepared a draft National Food Security Bill (NFSB). This draft, aside from ignoring all the demands of the right to food campaign, junks many essential provisions of the “NAC draft”, and even dilutes existing entitlements.

Microcredit/microfinance as a poverty alleviation strategy: implications for right to food and livelihoods (Note for Fourth National Convention of Right to Food and Work Campaign, August 2010).

Right to Food campaign has now adopted, moving beyond the entitlement criteria to restructuring agriculture policies in such a way that it does not compromise on food security, livelihood security and thereby the right to food.

A review of implementation of NREGS in West Bengal. Concludes that state’s NREGS programme is abysmally poor, despite the fact that there are committees and councils existing at various levels to monitor and review the programme.

An Act to ensure dignified economic and social access to adequate food and other requirements of good nutrition for all residents of the country, at all times, in pursuance of their fundamental right to be free from hunger, malnutrition and other
deprivations associated with the lack of food.