Food and nutrition security: Role of state support policies in Odisha

• Published date: 01 February 2022
• Author: Malayaranjan Sahoo
• Date: 01 February 2022
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2313

ACADEMIC PAPER

Food and nutrition security: Role of state support policies

in Odisha

Malayaranjan Sahoo

Department of Humanities and Social

Sciences, National Institute of Technology,

Rourkela, India

Correspondence

Malayaranjan Sahoo, Department of

Humanities and Social Sciences, National

Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India.

Email: sahoomalayaranjan4@gmail.com

This study focuses on Food and nutrition security in Odisha and specifically survey

the contribution of PDS and ICDS on food and nutrition security in the NAGADA vil-

lage of Jajpur district of Odisha. The whole study is based upon descriptive and quali-

tative in nature. This analysis is based on the source of both primary and secondary

data. The main tool for data collections are the interview schedule from the Nagada

village (Odisha, India). The interview schedules contained mostly close ended ques-

tions, though some open ended and structure questions also administered. It is found

that most of the people in that village depend on PDS. ICDS scheme is not function-

ing in the study village. For impact of socio-economic parameter on health status, we

got education of the households, female education, MPCE and casual labors show

significant relation, whereas household size display negative and case and land own

do not show any relation with health status.

1|INTRODUCTION

Food security is an emerging issue in India in the last two decades,

where more than one-third of the population is estimated to be abso-

lutely poor and one-half of all children malnourished in one way or

another. Food availability is the necessary condition for food security,

likewise food security also necessary condition for nutrition security.

Food security means when all people get adequate amount of nutri-

tious food for an active and healthy life (Allen, Pereira, Raes, &

Smith, 1998). But nutrition security adds the aspects of caring practices

and health services & healthy environment to this definition and concept.

Obviously, malnutrition problem is much broader then access to food

security.

To curb this malnutrition India has to cover diet diversification,

women empowerment, women education, healthyenvironment, sanita-

tion and hygiene. India has many government programmes such as

TPDS including AAY, nutrition programmes like mid-day meals, and

ICDS to improve food and nutrition security. NREGS and self-

employment programmes can also increase right to use to food and

nutrition. Social protection programmes in India helped in improving

incomes and providingprotection from shocks for the population, par-

ticularly for the poor. Nutrition is perhaps the most important factor,

which affects the health of a person. The body needs a balanced

amount of nutrientsand energy for its survival and is essentialfor good

health. A balanceddiet is desired and it takes into account six different

food apparatus which are proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, min-

erals, fibers and water. The needs may depend on your gender, your

age, your life type, yourhealth conditions and so on. Intakes of energy

and nutrients below or in excess of needs for an extended period of

time can unfavorablyaffect health.

Malnutrition is a term which covers problems of both under nutri-

tion and over nutrition. At the time of autonomy the country faced

two chief nutritional problems - one was the danger of famine and

acute hunger due to low agricultural production and lack of appropri-

ate food distribution system, and the other was constant energy defi-

ciency because of low dietary intake mainly due to poverty and low

purchasing power. Poor environmental sanitation and lack of access

to safe drinking water led to high prevalence of infections; nutrition

toll of infections was high because of poor access to health care. The

country initiated multi-sectoral, multi-pronged programmes to combat

poverty; simultaneously essential goods and services were provided

to people below poverty line at a subsidized cost to improve their

nutritional and health status (Ramachandran, 2007).

1.1 |Food security in India

Public distribution system in India has come since many decades. In

Indian situation, there is frequent natural disasters happening and it

results in famines and droughts that cause acute shortage conditions.

Received: 14 July 2020 Revised: 17 July 2020 Accepted: 17 July 2020

DOI: 10.1002/pa.2313

J Public Affairs. 2022;22:e2313. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/pa © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd 1of10

https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2313