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Enhancing Nutrition Security via India's National Food Security Act: Using an Axe Instead of a Scalpel?

Author

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  • Desai, Sonalde
  • Vanneman, Reeve

Abstract

In September 2013, India passed a historic National Food Security Act (NFSA). This paper examines the potential impact of the two central pillars of this act—expansion of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and strengthening of the Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS)—on child nutrition. Using new data from the India Human Development Survey of 2011–12, this paper shows that access to subsidized grains via PDS is not related to improved child nutrition, and while ICDS seems to be related to lower child undernutrition, it has a limited reach in spite of the universalization of the program. The paper suggests that a tiered strategy in dealing with child undernutrition that starts with the identification of undernourished children and districts and follows through with different strategies for dealing with severe, acute malnutrition, followed by a focus on moderate malnutrition, could be more effective than the existing focus on cereal distribution rooted in the NFSA.

Suggested Citation

  • Desai, Sonalde & Vanneman, Reeve, 2015. "Enhancing Nutrition Security via India's National Food Security Act: Using an Axe Instead of a Scalpel?," India Policy Forum, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 11(1), pages 67-118.
    • Handle: RePEc:nca:ncaerj:v:11:y:2015:i:2015-1:p:67-118
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    File URL: https://www.ncaer.org/publication/india-policy-forum-2014-15
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Niti Aayog GOI, 2017. "Evaluation Study on Role of Public Distribution System in Shaping Household and Nutritional Security India," Working Papers id:11753, eSocialSciences.
    2. Anjana Thampi, 2016. "The Impact of the Public Distribution System in India," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 10(3), pages 353-365, December.
    3. Suman Chakrabarti & Avinash Kishore & Devesh Roy, 2018. "Effectiveness of Food Subsidies in Raising Healthy Food Consumption: Public Distribution of Pulses in India," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 100(5), pages 1427-1449.
    4. Navaneeta Majumder, 2022. "Nutritional Status of Married Tribal Women in Jharkhand, India," Indian Journal of Gender Studies, Centre for Women's Development Studies, vol. 29(1), pages 76-97, February.
    5. Umanath Malaiarasan & R. Paramasivam & K. Thomas Felix, 2021. "Does Food Price Subsidy Affect Dietary Diversity? Evidence from South India," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 15(2), pages 268-290, May.
    6. Sudha Narayanan & Nicolas Gerber & Udayan Rathore & Karthikeya Naraparaju, 2017. "Can Social Safety Nets Protect Public Health? The Effect of India's Workfare and Foodgrain Subsidy Programmes on Anaemia," Working Papers id:12296, eSocialSciences.
    7. Shyma Jose & Ashok Gulati & Kriti Khuran, 2020. "Achieving Nutritional Security in India: Vision 2030," Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) Report 20-r-05, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), New Delhi, India.
    8. Spiker, Marie L. & Welling, Joel & Hertenstein, Daniel & Mishra, Suvankar & Mishra, Krishna & Hurley, Kristen M. & Neff, Roni A. & Fanzo, Jess & Lee, Bruce Y., 2023. "When increasing vegetable production may worsen food availability gaps: A simulation model in India," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Biradar, Rajeshwari A., 2023. "Association between poverty and anaemia among mother–child pairs in India," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Vikram, Kriti & Chindarkar, Namrata, 2020. "Bridging the gaps in cognitive achievement in India: The crucial role of the integrated child development services in early childhood," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    11. Sangeethaa, V & Bishnoia , S & Venkateshb, P & Singha, P & Satyapriyaa, & Lenina, V & Paula, S & Baruaa, S & Krishnana, M & Singha, S, 2018. "Rural households’ preferences for nutri-cereals supplied through public distribution system: a discrete choice experiment," Agricultural Economics Research Review, Agricultural Economics Research Association (India), vol. 31(2).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Malnutrition; Child health; Food Security; Public Distribution System (PDS); Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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