Posted On: 2022-10-11 16:49:04
Every day, we see a few people roaming on streets asking for food from others. They are either homeless and hungry or have homes but are hungry. They fight against hunger every single day and yet have to sleep on an empty stomach. In our country alone, 19 crore people go to bed hungry every day (National Health Survey). By this data, can you imagine the number of people not having access to enough food worldwide? It’s overwhelming to know that the number is 829 million!
In 2012, the United Nations launched the Zero Hunger Challenge. The challenge reflects the five elements of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals which include- eradicating hunger, eliminating every form of malnutrition, and building sustainable food systems. The Zero Hunger Challenge is actually a vision of attaining a lasting end to hunger and malnutrition by the year 2030. Achieving this goal is a tough row to hoe and it won’t be achieved by one organization or individual.
Rising poverty, lack of data, too much food wastage, lack of funds, increasing population, and lack of awareness has got the Zero hunger challenge off of the track. The pandemic slowed the process and has adversely affected the zero hunger project on a large scale. We need to pace up and chase it to cover for the years wasted in lockdown.
That is why, non-profit organizations, individuals, corporates, and other organizations are working tirelessly to row the boat and reach the target of Zero Hunger.
Here are a few of the food aid programs by the government of India battling hunger in India.
1. Mid-day Meal Scheme
The mid-day meal scheme is a food aid initiative by the government intended to improve the national nutritional status of school-age children. The scheme was launched in 1995 on the 15th of August, it started under the name of 'National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE).’
The Midday Meal Scheme is the biggest programme of its kind in the world, feeding 120 million kids in more than 1.27 million schools and Education Guarantee Scheme locations.
2. Targeted Public Distribution System
With a focus on the underprivileged, the Indian government introduced the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in June 1997. Under the PDS (Public Distribution System), States were supposed to develop and put into place reliable plans for identifying the needy so that food grains could be delivered to them and distributed in a way that was visible and responsible. he TPDS currently serves 6.52 crore (65.2 million) Below Poverty Line families as well as 11.5 Crore (115 million) Above Poverty Line families.
3. Eat Right India
Through the "Eat Right India" programme, FSSAI is making a major effort to change the nation's food system in order to ensure that all Indians have access to safe and nutritious food. Thus, the movement's slogan, "Sahi Bhojan. Behtar Jeevan," serves as its foundation. The program is linked to the National Health Policy 2017 and was launched in the year 2018. The mission of the Eat Right India movement is:
These are the most significant and largest food relief programs among the others by the government of India to fight hunger in the country. Further, we see food aid programs in India run by various non-profit organisations and other organisations in the country.
4. Akshaya Patra
One of the major challenges faced by the Government was the successful implementation of the scheme. In order to implement the Mid Day Meal Scheme successfully, Akshaya Patra Foundation has been operating its own school lunch program in Karnataka since 2000. It spreads over around 65 kitchens in 14 States and 2 Union Territories of India. Akshaya Patra serves a freshly prepared meal to 20,10,516 (which includes Anganwadi feeding) children every school day. They already offer the mid-day meal program in 22,367 schools across the nation and have plans to add hundreds more.
5. Feeding India
Zomato and Feeding India (officially known as Hunger Heroes) teamed up in January 2019 to end hunger and malnutrition in India. In order to fulfil their objective of eradicating hunger, they provide raw grains and freshly prepared food to underprivileged communities in addition to funding significant systemic solutions. The non-profit organization has served 13.3 crore meals so far and continues to give more.
6. Zero Hunger
The Zero Hunger project by Child Help Foundation and crowdfunding platform Filaantro was initiated with a dream to erase malnutrition among underprivileged children. It works on the belief that every child deserves nourishing food for nutrition and growth during their developmental years as this is the base of their coming future. The project feeds to 2000 underprivileged children daily in different locations across India which includes Delhi, Thane, Mumbai, North Eastern states, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore.
7. Iskcon-Food Relief Foundation
To combat malnutrition, the ISKCON Dwarka Food Relief Foundation was established. We are distributing "Food for life" in many regions of India in an effort to end malnutrition. It is a unique programme for distributing food. It provides nutritious vegetarian food to people in need of it. The temple devotees are the ones who make the food. Every day, they give out "food for life" to about 7000 visitors.
The Bottom Line...
Hunger is the biggest issue the world is facing and we need to take serious and decisive actions to fight it. These organizations and many others are working to create a lasting end to hunger and create a safe future. They need all of you to help so that together we reach the goal- Zero Hunger!
Author: Anjali Patel
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