Nutrition and Food Security in India

This volume focuses on pace and progress in India towards achieving various targets of SDG2: ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’ and SDG3: ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages’. The chapters provide detailed analyses of several programmes and schemes that exist to address the issue of nutrition and food security in India, such as the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) launched in 2018 with challenging goals to eradicate malnutrition. It examines why despite efforts, public health crisis, like malnutrition in several forms and food insecurity, remains grim across the Indian states. The book relies mostly on the recently published National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data (2019-21) which indicates a need for substantial improvements across multiple domains to achieve the global SDG targets by 2030.

The book addresses three broad themes: trends and determinants of public health nutrition; food security and public policy; equity in nutrition and food security. Chapters have been contributed by academic researchers as well as policy makers and experts working at the grassroot level to present a holistic picture. The book is thus a comprehensive blend of theoretical perspectives and practical insights, providing practical knowledge insights, and examining nutrition and food security from varied dimensions, including policy, agriculture, health, economics, and sociology. Furthermore, it integrates latest research findings and data, ensuring that readers are presented with the most up-to-date information and insights.

The use of lucid language and real-world examples aim to facilitate a broader readership. Its multidisciplinary approach enables readers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex issues at play, making the book a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.