families, the poorest ones are entitled to 35 kilograms of foodgrains. For a few
years, the central government will supply rice, wheat and millets for Rs.3, Rs.2 and
Rs.1 respectively. Under this law, if required, a maximum of 75% of people living
in rural areas and 50 per cent of urban population have the right to buy foodgrains
from public distribution system. If the government is not able to arrange foodgrains,
it will give cash to the people to buy foodgrains. This law also envisages providing
free cooked meals for pregnant women, lactating mothers, children aged 1-6 coming
to anganwadis and mid-day meals for children aged 6-14 in schools.

While Indian Parliament enacts various laws such as National Food Security
Act and implements schemes such as Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS),
in recent times, the Indian judiciary also has become pro-active in ensuring food
security. Through judicial verdict on court cases filed by non-governmental
organisations, the Supreme Court directed all the state governments and central
government to provide mid-day meals to all the young children studying in schools.
Though such schemes existed on a sm hiall scale in a few states like Tamil Nadu, this
scheme is now being implemented in all the the states. About 14 crore children
studying in schools eat mid-day meal today. When state governments refused to
implement this scheme, the court also set up monitoring mechanisms and provided
suggestions for better implementation such as school mid-day meals should be locally
produced, hot and cooked (and not dry snacks or grain which many governments
distributed until then), hygienic, nutritious (of a prescribed minimum caloric
level) and with varied menus for every day of the week. The court also ruled that
preference be given to dalit cooks, widows and destitute women. This is the largest
school feeding programme in the world. In order to generate revenue for this scheme,
the court directed the Indian government to impose taxes. The hot cooked meal is
also now provided in anganwadis for children.

Lastly, we look at the nutrition status of children and adultsto judge whether
the food actually consumed is adequate. This also informs us if the above discussed

systems are working effectively or not and what are the problem areas.
Food is required by the body for all its functions - for energy, growth and the
capacity to remain healthy and fight illness. The food that we consume is normally
classified as:

Carbohydrates:
that provide energy, through wheat, rice, ragi,
jowar, oils, sugar, fats etc.

protenis:
that help growth and regeneration of body tissues, through
beans, dals, meat, eggs, rice, wheat etc.

Vitamins:
that provide protection and ensure the working of many
vital systems of the body through foods such as fruits, leafy vegetables, sprouts,
unpolished rice etc.

Minerals :
That are required in small quantities for many important
functions such as iron for blood formation. This is provided through green leafy
vegetables, ragi etc.