Relief India Trust: NGO to campaign against food wastage

This New Year, the resolution of the day is to ‘Eat less and serve more’, a target that has both personal as well as social benefit. Though it may sound weird, it is in fact built on sound logic.

In spite of the food production touching nearly 260 million tonnes and the introduction of Food Security Bill, the strides made towards achieving nutritional security is far from satisfactory. In spite of the marginal decline of 3.4 p.c. of under-nourished population, 3.2 p.c. of malnourished children below five years and 1.4 p.c. of child mortality registered over a period of eight years, India is placed at the dismal rank of 63 among 78 countries for hunger index of 21.3 under ‘alarming hunger’ category. Still worse, the country lies between poor countries like Tanzania and Mozambique. The performance indicators of several states have shown insignificant improvement.

Here is the paradox. The number of malnourished people with calorie deficiency is almost the same as people with over-nutrition. Around 35 crore Indians go to bed without food, while those who have had sumptuous food are ignorant of their fellow denizens’ plight, thus posing a serious challenge to the administration on food security implementation.

“An estimated 25-30 crore Indians, forming 20 p.c. of the population, tend to consume food above the 2000-2500 K calories (over nutrition), which is not a healthy sign. This happens among the rich and affluent sections of the society in cities/towns, mostly in lavish marriages and extravagant social parties with several ‘calorie-rich recipes’ made of pulses and fats”, says Velamoor Rajagopal, formerly Director of Central Plantation Crop Research Institute, Kasaragod (Kerala).

Another reason for the failure to meet the target is food wastage, especially in hotels, social gatherings and student hostels.

Dr.Rajagopal, who has founded the Society for Hunger Elimination (SHE) to work towards achieving a ‘hunger-free India’ by creating awareness on food wastage, appeals to the public to take a resolution on the occasion to restrict intake, avoid wastage and serve the deprived. He can be contacted at 94412 00217 for details.

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