India’s Changing Nutritional Landscape: A Governance Analysis of Food and Nutrition Programs

With the passing of the National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA), India appears to be making a renewed commitment to tackling the food and nutrition insecurity that have plagued the country. While recent data shows overall improvement in the levels of wasting and stunting among children under the age of 5 years, the variation between states in the country remains high. Between public shaming, individual state initiatives for reform, and a rights-based movement that culminated in the passing of the NFSA, this study aims to examine how the delivery of food and nutrition entitlements is unfolding at different levels. First, how has this bill led to institutional reforms to ensure appropriate grievance redressal and vigilance of the targeted programs? Second, how have different states handled the implementation of the two core programs of this bill, the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)? Finally, this study will highlight severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in India, and examine how households perceive the escalation in their child’s health and whether they are able to better manage the various factors that contribute to such a condition after the child’s recovery at nutrition rehabilitation centers (NRCs).