Statement by India under Agenda Item 3 : Interactive Dialogue with the
Special Rapporteur on the right to food in the 46th Session of the
Human Rights Council (22 February – 23 March 2021) delivered by
Ms. Seema Pujani, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of India
(Geneva, 02 March 2021)
Madam President,
We thank the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food for his efforts in the preparation of the recent report that lays down his vision for the mandate, including issues faced following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Madam President,
In order to alleviate the hardships faced by poor in India due to the economic disruption caused by the pandemic, food grains as well as pulses were distributed free of cost to roughly two-thirds of India’s population.
To mitigate the suffering of migrant workers, chickpea was supplied from Government buffer stocks to migrant worker families who were not covered under the National Food Security Act or were without ration card in the State or Union Territory in which they were stranded.
India is now implementing the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ plan under which distribution of highly subsidized food grains is enabled through nation-wide portability of ration cards using an IT-driven system. So far, the facility has been enabled in 32 Indian States and Union Territories covering nearly 700 million beneficiaries.
With a view to providing income support to all farmer families across the country, the Government of India disburses direct cash assistance to them in quarterly instalments since 2019. The Government has also committed itself to doubling farmers’ income by 2022, the 75th year of India’s independence. Long awaited reforms in marketing of agricultural produce have been effected to enable farmers to realise better price for their produce.
Various national level programmes are also being implemented to ensure nutrition security for the people.
Madam President,
India remains committed to the right to food for our people.
I thank you.
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