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New Delhi: Local communities in various parts of the country have set an example of how food security for poor can be ensured with better targeting and stakeholder participation.
An e-discussion group of stakeholders, called Solution Exchange, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), noted that if suitably empowered, village local governments–panchayati raj institutions–can contribute to food security just as they have contributed to literacy, health, education, sanitation and drinking water programmes.
Some panchayats in Chhattisgarh have designed programmes for improving the poor people’s access to food and audit the public distribution system (PDS) & food markets against distortions & leakages through greater stakeholder participation. This programme involved a special mandate for organising gram sabhas and community volunteers called Mitanins (chosen by panchayats) for mobilising health & nutrition support services and influencing behaviourial change.
In some gram sabhas in Chhattisgarh the agenda of nutritional security has been integrated with the help of CARE. The political mandate helped create a conducive environment, and home visits by Mitanins and other volunteers provided special health and nutrition services to women and children.
In Maharashtra the grain bank programme initiated in the Atpadi taluka of Sangli district is a step to ensuring food security to the community.
In Kerala, the Kudumbasree Mission and Asraya Project – a multi focal programme for destitutes–provide for the households’ basic needs and addresses vulnerability issues. Food security, a key concern of destitutes, is being successfully managed under this programme. Across four districts, 21 panchayats have been found suitable for providing food security to vulnerable groups, if they get professional support. Also, the panchayati raj institutions in prime poverty zones in tribal areas can address the issue of food security.
However, the Solution Exchange Programme noted that the experience of the implementation of the NREGS in Maghalaya and Haryana points towards a basic weakness of panchayats and district councils in operationalising such schemes without adequate capacities. This makes control of malpractices and leakages difficult since accountability mechanisms are weak. In Haryana, one sarpanch even went to the extent of suggesting that no powers should be given to panchayats.
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