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Agriculture Secretary Smt. Radha Singh today highlighted the role of civil society and close coordination between various Governmental orgnisations in providing food security to the poor.
Smt. Singh was inaugurating the National Workshop on Protecting the Vulnerable in India – the Role of Social Safety Nets organized by the United Nations World Food Programme and the World Bank Institute.
Smt. Singh referred to the important role being played by governmental progammes/initiatives such as the Food for Work Programme under Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY), the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
She said that not only hunger but malnutrition would need to be addressed by bringing about a change in the mix of foodgrains that are given under the food for work programmes. Food security gains greater meaning when it is taken to mean nutritional security as well, she said.
Agriculture Secretary also called for proper targeting of the poor in various schemes and bringing about efficiency in their operation. Efficient functioning of foodgrains market is another pre-requisite in ensuring food security wherein regulatory provisions, organizational improvements and proper dissemination play a prominent role. In all these aspects, she said, the civil society can play an important role.
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