Supreme Court Declined Plea That Sought Establishment Of Community Kitchens To Address Hunger And Malnourishment

On Thursday, the Supreme Court declined to issue any guidance regarding a plea that sought the creation of a plan for the establishment of community kitchens as a means of addressing hunger and malnourishment. SC noted that the federal government and the states are already implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare programs, says reports from PTI.

National Food Security Act

“We have not examined whether the concept of community kitchens is better or wiser alternative available to states to achieve the objective of NFSA. Rather, we would leave it open to states and union territories to ensure implementation of alternative welfare schemes,” the apex court said.

“The National Food Security Act and other welfare schemes are being implemented by the Union of India and the states to ensure access to adequate quantity of food at affordable prices to people. We do not propose to issue any further direction in this regard,” said the bench hearing the case.

PIL for establishment of community kitchens filed by social activists

The PIL filed by social activists Anun Dhawan, Ishann Singh, and Kunajan Singh sought orders to all states and union territories to create a plan for community kitchens in order to fight hunger and malnutrition. A bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal rendered this decision in response to the petition.

The plea had claimed that starvation and malnutrition claimed the lives of numerous children under five every day. Numerous citizens’ fundamental rights, such as the right to food and life, were violated in this situation.

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National Legal Services Authority

In addition, the social activists requested that the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) be given an order to develop a plan to reduce hunger-related deaths and that the Center be directed to create a national food grid for those not covered by the public distribution system.

The activists had mentioned the notions of soup kitchens, meal centers, food kitchens, and community kitchens in other nations, as well as the state-funded community kitchens that are operated at reduced costs in states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Delhi.