(a) whether the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in its report on State of Food
Insecurity warned that there are now 799 million people in the developing countries suffering
from under-nourishment and majority of them live in India;
(b) if so, the details in this regard; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to face this challenge?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a)&(b): In a publication issued by FAO in 2002 entitled `The State of Food Insecurity in the
World` , FAO have reported that the number of under-nourished people in the world is 840
million out of whom, 799 million live in developing countries. This assessment is based on data
for the years 1998 to 2000. The number of under nourished people in India has been estimated at
233.3 million.
(c): Ensuring Food Security in the country has been a major concern of Government since
independence. The main constituents of basic food security-system in India are policies relating
to promotion of domestic food-grains production, minimum support prices to farmers,
procurement and storage, public distribution system and maintenance of buffer stock, etc. To
reach food-grains to the poor a targeted public Distribution System has been introduced.
Besides, schemes like Antyodaya Anna Yojana, etc. seek to provide free food-grains to destitutes
not receiving old age pension. Mid day meal scheme, Annapurna scheme, Food for work
programmes, etc. also seek provision of food to the poorer sections lacking purchasing power. It
must be added that with a phenomenal improvement in food production and a comfortable food-
grains stock, the major challenge is now to ensure that poorer sections get access to these food-
grains.