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Atlas

Food Insecurity Atlas of Urban India

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and the World Food Programme have brought out a report on food insecurity in urban India. The dimensions of the problem were studied across the urban areas of the States and Union Territories and across different size classes of towns-metropolitan cities, big towns, medium towns, and small towns. The analysis indicates that there are wide variations in the nature and extent of the problem of food security across different States in the country, across different size classes of towns in the States, and within different types of towns.

Some important issues have been brought to light for policy consideration. Food intake at the average level is not an indication of the food intake of the urban lower expenditure classes. The lowest deciles in all the States appear to eat less. The problems are aggravated with urban concentration. Things have changed for the worse for the urban poor in recent years. Daily status unemployment rate is high for the lower expenditure classes and related to low calorie intake of the poorest. Lower deciles in urban areas hardly benefit from the public distribution system. The head count ratio of poverty does not reflect the calorie intake of the people. In addition, there is a possibility of missing out the needy through the arbitrary selection of the 'below the poverty line' category. Hence, it is first necessary to de-link head count ratio of poverty from allocation of PDS foodgrains and to make PDS universal. Second, food-for-work and other programmes such as Nagarpalika Rozgar Yojana need to be launched to reduce the daily status unemployment.

Slums, mounting garbage, menace of mosquitoes, and lack of toilet facilities are some of the serious concerns in urban areas. Several States have made considerable progress in certain areas of sanitation and hygiene. This clearly shows that cleaner cities and towns is an achievable goal. Recycling of used water can be supplied for flushing toilets. Segregation of garbage and recycling of waste can provide profitable jobs for many and keep the cities clean too at the same time. The development of peri-urban green belts will go a long way in improving urban amenities.

None of the States are free from problems. However, the remarkable achievement of some can provide guidance to others. Better food affordability achieved by Jammu & Kashmir, better livelihood access in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, better sanitation and health found in Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Kerala, and better nutritional standards achieved by Kerala and Karnataka provide clear examples.

Coming to different size classes of towns across the country, the study has established the fact that problems of food security are more acute in the case of small towns. The deprivation faced by households with regard to securing employment as well as access to amenities is the highest for those living in small towns. This finding has an important policy implication-which is, that programmes that aim at improving the living conditions of the urban population, especially the urban poor, as well as those that aim at increasing economic access to food will have to accord priority to small towns.

A detailed analysis of metropolitan cities has shown that, while urban problems are in general much less severe in the metros compared to other urban areas, the magnitude of the problem in metros is very high indeed. The findings also suggest that a decentralised and comprehensive policy approach should be adopted, as there is a great deal of variation in the nature of the problem of food security across States and towns.

(Reports: By Kanta Murali in the Frontline Vol. 20, Issue 01, Jan. 18-31, 2003)