... by distributing edible oil
December, 2016 in Issue 4 - 2016, Comment
Stem nutrition insecurity
India risks a move toward nutrition insecurity if the issue of under-nutrition is not addressed with the great urgency it deserves. For a rapidly emerging economy like India with aspirations to become a developed economy, it is critical that the extant nutrition challenge is recognised at the highest policy-making level and steps are initiated to ameliorate it.
To address malnutrition, the government runs several schemes, but these are fragmented and there is little coordinated action among different ministries that implement different schemes.
As a result, funds are frittered away and results on the ground are less than desirable. All schemes to address malnutrition need to be dovetailed so as to deliver better service and capture value.
Inflation hurts, especially food inflation; and it hits the poor the hardest. The poor need food and nutrition security. In a price- conscious market such as India, high prices often lead to demand compression, especially among the vulnerable sections of the population – a section that suffers from under-nutrition and desperately needs to consume more oils and fats.
One way in which India’s nutrition security can be advanced is through inclusion of edible oil for supply under the Public Distribution System (PDS) or the National Food Security Act.
Of the 250 million families, as many as 150 million families deserve to be supported with wholesome but economically priced food. Currently, there is access to rice, wheat and sugar under the PDS. This list should be expanded to include edible oil and pulses. Supply of even 1kg of fortified edible oil per family per month will go some way in addressing the nutrition issue.
For the purpose, I estimate the quantity of edible oil involved at approximately 2 million tonnes a year which is about 10% of India’s annual consumption. The supply of packaged edible oil (in half- or one-kilo packs) will ensure that consumers get unadulterated safe edible oil to meet at least a part of their nutrition requirement.
Without doubt, there will be political, social and economic benefits that would flow from such a policy initiative. To be sure, supplying edible oil through the PDS would be nothing new for India.
Until 2002, consumers had benefited from supplies of economically priced refined palm olein. In its wisdom, the then government decided to discontinue the service. It is time for revival of the scheme. If it involves some subsidy, so be it.
