Context
India's economy is the largest and is growing at the fastest rate, but it is also struggling with the unsettling issue of rising food prices. It clearly has an impact on a substantial portion of the population's ability to buy a balanced meal.
  
Highlights from the article include
·         Despite having the fastest growing large economy in the world, India is currently experiencing rising food inflation.
·         The cost of food began to increase quickly in 2019.
-          In July of this year, annual inflation reached 11%, which was the highest level in a decade.
 
The following goals are to be achieved 
·         Ensuring that people have access to enough affordable, high-quality food to live a life of dignity; 
·         Ensuring food and nutritional security throughout the human life cycle.

Coverage  
·         The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) makes subsidised foodgrains available to up to 50% of the urban population and 75% of the rural population.
 
Eligibility  
·         Priority households are covered by the TPDS, in accordance with State government laws.
·         Households that fall under the current Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

Provisions   
·         5 kg of food per person per month, divided between rice, wheat, and coarse grains at a rate of 3/2/1 kg.
·         Each existing AAY per household will continue to receive 35 Kg of foodgrains each month.
·         Children under the age of 14 receive meals, while expectant and nursing women receive maternity benefits of at least $6,000 during pregnancy and the first six months after giving birth.
·         Establishing district- and state-level mechanisms for managing complaints; • Beneficiaries will get a food security allowance if eligible foodgrains or meals are not provided.

Evidence for Inflation  
·         The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates the proportion of people globally who cannot afford a healthy diet in its report, "State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World."
·         This figure will be in India: According to reports, 74% of people lack access to a healthy diet. Studies carried out in India have revealed that households' ability to cover their food expenses is dwindling.

Finding is Sufficient  
·         Trends in Mumbai's food prices from 2018 to 2023 include: Making a thaali at home now costs 65% more than it did in the past.
·         The average wage for manual labourers climbed by 38%, while the average wage for paid workers increased by 28%.
·         According to the National Family Health Survey 2019–21, dietary inadequacies are the main cause of the rising prevalence of anaemia.
·         More than 50% of adult women are thought to be anaemic.
·         It is likely that more than half of Indians cannot afford a food that is nourishing.
 
Challenges  
·         Macroeconomic policy hasn't been able to keep inflation under control as predicted in this situation.
·         The Reserve Bank of India has failed in this aim because the inflation rate has been steadily higher than the target over the past four years.
·         The "inflation targeting" approach it uses, which lowers output when inflation rises, is deceptive.
·         There is no attempt made to rein in supply-side food inflation.

Mistakes made during the Green Revolution  
·         The widespread use of chemical fertilisers, which ruined the soil and were promoted by subsidies.
·         The reliance on procurement prices rather than productivity increases to preserve farm revenues contributed to inflation.
·         The strategy in favour of grains generally disregarded pulses, which constitute the majority of Indians' main source of protein.

Way forward  
·         Supply-side intervention is necessary to ensure that food is produced at a consistent price by raising the yield on land. India's network of public agricultural research institutes has to be rejuvenated in order to resume its excellent performance from the 1960s.
·         The gramme sevak was a well-known figure in the hamlet who played a key role in spreading excellent practises. Reviving it is essential.
·         It may be questioned whether the States are contributing to increased agricultural output rather than relying on food distributions from the national pool to their Public Distribution Systems, with the national government leading the States in a cooperative federalism mindset.
·         The first Green Revolution stood out for its reliance on business: "No approach consistent with ecological security must be off the table in order to ensure that all Indians have permanent access to a healthy diet."

LTX Mains Question
Q. What problems does India's escalating food price inflation cause? Discuss how a comprehensive, cooperative Green Revolution approach might help address ecological security challenges and ensure that all Indians have access to a healthy diet.