The Pursuit of Food Security in India: Policies sans Concept and Commitment?

Abstract

Food security policy in India in recent years has lacked clarity and direction. It resembles a series of ad hoc measures without a clear evidence-based assessment to support them. To reduce the fiscal deficit, the economic reform era began in 1991 with proposals to target the public food distribution system (PDS) on cost-efficiency considerations. Instead of reducing exclusion errors that leave needy poor people out of the PDS, the emphasis was on reducing the number of non-poor people receiving welfare support. (…)