Food Security in 21 Century: Perspective and Vision

Food Security is not a need but a necessity of our time. Wearing bifocals, Policy makers had a two-dimensional view-increased food production and ‘playing-around’ with Public Distribution system (PDS) by way of Revamped or Targeted PDS. Result of our efforts of so many years-25 per cent of the world’s malnourished population living in India alone. ‘Nutrition’ was never on the agenda of the System. We have a large percentage ‘hungry’ on the one hand and still larger percentage of under/malnourished on the other. Need is to view Food Security as larger than PDS of whatever variety. Convergence of efforts, better targeting with a focus on them alone, with a more sensitive delivery system capable of Managing the Change can help lay the road-map to reach the needy and the poor to the goal of living in a more civil and vibrant society. That shall be their rendezvous with Destiny.