A recent BBC article reports that more people are classified as “poor”in India’s eight poorest states than Africa’s 26 poorest countries. In this case, an estimated 421 million Indians are in poverty. Recently, many have argued that the Indian government should replace its inefficient social safety net of subsidized government food, cooking fuel and education with food coupons or cash, making food a fundamental civil right to all.
Proponents of this fight to change India’s constitution and declare food a “right” say that a new system could qualify every Indian family for a monthly 77-pound bag of grain, sugar and kerosene. Opponents cite the government’s renowned inability to combat official corruption as a risk to successful distribution of such cash programs.
Many social advocates assert that if India is to become a regional competitor with China, it must first fight poverty and malnutrition rates prevalent throughout the rural states.
Posted by Emma Fursland
