Right To Food In India: A Critical Review Of Legal, Policy And Judicial Frameworks
- IJLLR Journal
- 4 days ago
- 1 min read
Ms. Ambika Saksena, Research Scholar, Sushant University, Gurugram
Dr. Himadri Shekhar Dey, Assistant Professor, Sushant University, Gurugram
Dr. Sachin Datt, Associate Professor, Sushant University, Gurugram
ABSTRACT
The right to food is a fundamental human entitlement that is essential for ensuring survival, dignity, and social justice. In India, this right has been judicially interpreted as an integral component of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Despite the existence of various welfare schemes and policy measures, the persistence of hunger and malnutrition highlights serious gaps in implementation. Over the years, India has adopted several policies and welfare schemes to address hunger and malnutrition. The programs include “Public Distribution System (PDS) and its sub-programs (Annapurna Scheme and the Anthodaya Anna Yojana, a foodgrain price stabilization programme, food-for-work programmes such as the Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana/Jawahar Rojgar Yojana (JGSY/JRY) and the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS), The mid-meals programme and a number of direct nutrition programmes – Integrated Child Development Services, Balwadi Nutrition Programme, Day Care Centres Scheme, and Vitamin A and Iron Distribution programmes that are linked with the ICDS.”
This paper critically examines the constitutional foundation, international obligations, judicial developments, and policy mechanisms related to the right to food in India. It further evaluates the challenges in enforcement and proposes measures to improve the effectiveness of food security governance.
Keywords: Right to Food, Article 21, Food Security, Public Distribution System, Judiciary, Welfare Schemes.
