Context
The NSS Household Consumption Survey 2024 highlights a paradox: while poverty levels have declined, nearly 50% of rural households and 20% of urban households still cannot afford two thalis per day at market prices. This underscores the nutrition affordability crisis in India. Experts suggest restructuring the Public Distribution System (PDS) to equalise primary food consumption, particularly by including pulses, which remain under-consumed by the poorest sections.
Primary Food Consumption in India
Definition & Components
- Definition: Minimum food intake required for energy, protein, and micronutrient sufficiency.
- Components:
- Cereals – Carbohydrates
- Pulses – Proteins
- Vegetables – Vitamins & minerals
- Fats – Energy
- Milk/Curd – Calcium
- Metric Used: Thali Index – a balanced South Asian meal (rice/roti, dal, vegetables, curd, salad).
Features
- Balanced Nutrition: Beyond calories, ensures carb–protein–micronutrient mix.
- Universal Baseline: Sets a minimum desirable standard for all citizens.
- Affordability Sensitive: Reflects what households can buy after non-food expenses.
- Equity-Oriented: Measures disparities in food access.
- Policy-Relevant: Useful for subsidy design and targeting.
Current Reality of Food Consumption
- 50% of rural and 20% of urban India cannot afford two thalis/day.
- Cereal Equality: Rice/wheat consumption is nearly equal across classes → PDS success.
- Pulses Gap: Bottom 5% consume half the pulses of top 5% → protein deprivation.
- PDS Limitation: Covers cereals well, but fails to bridge protein gap.
Policy Implication: Expand PDS to include pulses while trimming excess cereal subsidies for higher-income groups.
Public Distribution System – Present Context
Achievements
- Equalised cereal consumption across rich and poor.
Gaps
- Protein deficiency persists; poorest consume far fewer pulses.
- Urban–Rural Divide: Urban subsidies more progressive, rural subsidies benefit higher-expenditure households.
Inefficiencies
- 80% of population receives cereals, including non-needy groups.
- Results in excess FCI stocks, fiscal strain, and economic inefficiency.
Challenges in Equalising Food Consumption
- Fiscal Stress: Universal cereal subsidies leave little scope for nutrition diversification.
- Nutritional Deficit: Despite cereal sufficiency, malnutrition, anaemia, and stunting remain high.
- Logistical Barriers: Pulse procurement, storage, and price stabilisation require stronger infrastructure.
- Targeting Errors: Leakages, inclusion of non-poor, and exclusion of genuine beneficiaries.
- Behavioural Factors: Cultural food habits and low awareness may limit dietary diversification.
Policy Proposal – Restructuring PDS
- Rationalise Cereal Entitlement: Align rice/wheat allocations with actual per-capita needs.
- Diversify Basket: Add pulses, millets, fortified oil, iodised salt.
- Remove Top-End Subsidies: Gradually cut cereals for top 20% consumption group.
- Dynamic Targeting: Use Aadhaar + SECC data for updated lists.
- Leverage Technology: Implement GPS grain tracking, DBT for pulses, and e-POS monitoring.
Way Forward
- Nutrition-First Approach: Shift focus from calories to proteins & micronutrients.
- Pulse Procurement Missions: Expand NFSM, incentivise farmers to grow pulses in rice fallows.
- Fiscal Prudence: Redirect savings from cereal subsidies to ICDS, PM Poshan, Mid-Day Meals.
- Community Kitchens: Scale up Amma Canteens/Anna Canteens for affordable thalis.
- Public Awareness: Campaigns on balanced diets, protein needs, millet consumption.
Conclusion
India’s success in cereal security now needs to evolve into nutrition security. By restructuring PDS, including pulses and diversified foods, and targeting the truly deprived, India can bridge the protein gap and address hidden hunger. A nutrition-sensitive, efficient, and equitable PDS can serve as a global model for sustainable food equity.
