India faces a paradox of food surplus and nutritional deficit. Analyse the structural reasons behind this paradox and suggest reform strategies. (Answer in 250 words)

Paradox of food supply: . Bumper kharif crops . Fish exports . Pulses production Nutrition Deficit: . 35.5% children stunted, short . 57% women Anaemia Structural Reasons behind this paradox 1. Fragmented governance on Nutrition (e.g. ICDS (Ministry of Health & Family Welfare), Poshan (Ministry of Women)) 2. Silos data availability - Poshan, Indiadharmann; NFHE-5 → lack of informational clarity (Economic survey 2015) 3. Fragmented Agriculture Market - weat food processing due to APMC; middlemen monopoly 4. Lack of storage facilities - NITI Aayog deposited ₹48000 crore food wastage due to lack of proper cover storage methods at Mandis 5. Non-diversification to nutritious crops eg over reliance Paddy, wheat → less on Millets; Pulses 6. Hidden Hunger due to social determinants - poverty; lack of sanitation facilities e.g. 1½ slum dwellers in India 7. Over-nutrition challenge - fast-processed food in urban waiter cultural changes - Modernisation McDonaldisation

Reform Strategies: 1. Consolidation of governance scheme & data eg Poshan Tracker for real time governance 2. Capacity buildy of Primary Health Care PHC Centres → eg TB - Mitigay - Mitras 3. Agriculture reforms → food processsing → C-WAM . Cold chain infrastructure . Crop diversification 4. Addressing Hidden Hunger → WASH initiatives 5. Anaemia Must Bharat by 2020 by addressing the Nutritional deficiency, India can achieve SDG (3) goal on good health

[Continuation of Reform Strategies section]

— Simrandeep Kaur · AIR 14