India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), has proven instrumental in reducing child stunting, a leading indicator of childhood malnutrition.
According to a recent study, the PDS has prevented stunting in around 1.8 million children across eight Indian states.
This research underscores the vital role of the PDS in addressing the persistent issue of malnutrition in the country.
National Food Security Act (NFSA) & PDS
The PDS was expanded under the NFSA in 2013 and further strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic with the introduction of the Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in 2020.
This initiative provides subsidized food grains to eligible households, including 5kg of staple grains per person each month at Rs. 3 per kg for rice and Rs. 2 per kg for wheat.
The increased access to affordable food has played a crucial role in improving nutrition levels across the country, particularly for vulnerable populations.
The study, conducted by researchers from IIM Bangalore and global universities, focused on households with ration cards in 30 villages across eight states, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra.
It found that the increased food transfers from the PDS led to higher dietary diversity and a more substantial intake of nutrient-rich foods.
As families spent less on staple grains due to the subsidies, they had more financial capacity to purchase nutrient-dense foods, which significantly helped reduce stunting.
Focus On Infants: The Critical First 1,000 Days
A particularly noteworthy finding of the study was the substantial reduction in stunting among infants aged 0 to 2 years.
This age group is considered critical for a child’s development, as the first 1,000 days of life are highly sensitive to nutritional intake.
The study highlighted that improved access to nutritious foods during this period played a key role in reducing stunting, demonstrating the importance of early childhood nutrition.
Buffering Against Climate Shocks: PDS As A Safety Net
The study also found that the PDS helped mitigate the effects of adverse weather conditions, such as poor rainfall or drought, which can exacerbate malnutrition.
In years marked by negative rainfall shocks, the PDS food transfers led to a 7% reduction in child stunting, underscoring the role of nutrition-sensitive safety nets in maintaining food security during climate crises.
The findings from the study reinforce the importance of nutrition-sensitive safety nets like the PDS in improving child nutrition outcomes.
By reducing the financial burden of purchasing staple foods, the PDS allows families to invest in more diverse and nutrient-rich diets, leading to better health outcomes for children.
The success of the PDS in combating stunting, especially in the face of local climate shocks, highlights the system’s critical role in enhancing food security and addressing malnutrition in India.
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