Lok Sabha Question No. 39 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-02
Subject: Impact of Covid-19 on Food Security
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: S. Gnanathiraviam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MTNISTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS' FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UI{STARRED QUESTION NO. 39

TO BE AI{SWERED ON 2"d Februaryr2ozl

## IMPACT OF COVID-{9 ON FOOD SECURITY

## 39 SHRt GNAT{ATHIRAVIAM  S.:

Will the Minister of CONSUIUIER  AFFAIRS' FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION  Jqlf{ldr rnr*, ur6<  gt{  srffifi fitr{q d+ be pteased to state:

- (a)  whether Govid'{9 crisis could pose long term effects on food security and nutrition across the country;
- (b)  if so, the details thereof and the steps to overcome this issue immediately;
- (c) and whetherourcountryfarespoorlyinhungerindexacrosstheworld;
- (d)ifso,thedetailsthereofandthestepstoovercomethisissue?

ANSWER MINISTERoF,STATEFoRMINISTRYoFGoNSUMERAFFAIRS'FooD& PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

(a) & (b): Govemment undertook timely and Goncrete measures to ensurethattherearenolongtermeffectsoftheGovid-{gcrisisonfood securityandnutritioninthecountry'Tofulfitlthisobiective'Pradhan mantriGa]ibKalyanAnnaYoiana(PMGKAY)andAtmaNirbharBharat (ANB) Programme were taunched to  ensure that the targeted beneficiaries  do not face any issue of food security on account of the pandemic.

........2t-

Pradhan Mantrt  -  Garib Kalyan Anna YoIana (PMGKAY) provided for additional atlocation of foodgrains @ 5 kS per perlson per month free of cost for all the beneficiaries  covered under Targeted Public Distribution System (Antyodaya Anna Yoiana & Priority Households) for a period of 8 months i.e. Aprit to l{ovember,  2O2O. This was over and above the monthly benefit provided under the  ationa! Food Security Act, 2Ol3 to about 8O crore persons. ln addition to thas, as patt of the economic measures  (Atma Nirbhar Bharat), atlocation of foodgrainsr free ot cost, had been made to atl the States/Union  Territoriesr  for the month of May and June, 2O2A, lor stranded migrants not covered under the Nationa! Food Security Act,  2lD'13 or  any other State scheme/PDS.  Such beneficiaries  were eligibte for 5 kg of foodgrains  per person per month.

## (c) & (d): The rank and score of India under the Global Hunger lndex (GHI) published annually by Goncern Worldwide  and welthungerhilfe  is as follows:

| !ndiats pe ormance   | GHt 2018       | GHr 20{9       | GHt 2020      |
|----------------------|----------------|----------------|---------------|
| Score                | 31.{ 0         | 30.30          | 27.20         |
| Rank                 | lO3 out of ll9 | lO2 out ol 117 | 94 out of 107 |

As per GHI Reports the composite GHt scores of lndia have improved from 38.9 in 2OOO to 3{ .{ O in 2Ol 8 and further to 27.2 in 2O2O.

various initiatives have been taken by the Government  to address the problem of malnutrition and micro.nutrient  deficiency in the country. Government taunched the POSHAN Abhiyan in  March, 2O1A to comprehenslvely  address the problem of malnutrition  in the country coveringchildrenfromO'6yearcradolescentgirlsrpregnantwomenand tactating mothers  in a time bound manner.

Further,toaddressanemiaandm.Gro.nutrientdeficiencyinthe country,GovemmentoflndiahaslaunchedacentrallysponsoredPilot SchemeonsFortificationofRiceanditsDistributionunderPublic Distribut.onsystem(PDs),foraperiodof3yearcbeginningin2ol9.2o withtotaloutlayofRs.{T4.64Grore.Thepilotschemeisintendedto focus on {5 districts  preferably one district  per state for distribution  of fortified rice under the Public Distribution System'