Gender critique of Food security schemes and legislation

Ranjani.K.Murthy, and Mercy Kappen

Objective

At the end of the session the participants would be familiar with

a)the different food security schemes and legislation in the country

b) gender/equity critique of food security schemes and legislation

Please list…

• Schemes that you know related to food production, food access and food utilization

Classifying schemes

Food production Food Access Food utilisation

Agricultural schemes

*

Mid day meal *

ICDS * *

Public distribution system

*

Group Task

• Discuss strengths and weakness of the scheme allotted to your group in general, and from a gender lens.

Strength and weakness of agricultural schemes from a gender lens

Strength

Recognizes WHH as

cultivators

Women’s access tor

inputs, marketing etc.

Collective agriculture

Gender sensitization

Weakness

Conversion of agriculture

land

Contract farming

Right to jtland

Equal wages

Value chain

Seed preservation

Strengths and weakness of Mid day meal scheme from a gender lens

Strength

Offers potential to expand utilization

Helped in retention of girl

children

Weakness

Exclusion of out of school children and high school

children

No food during holidays

Caste discrimination

Food quality varies

The ayah who cooks is exploited

Strengths and weakness of ICDS scheme from a gender lens

Seeks to expand access to/utilization of food of:

6 months-5 years

Adolescent girls

Pregnant and lactating women

Old age pensioners

StrengthIrregular timings, poor facilities and corruption

Excludes non pregnant and lactating women who are undernourished

The timing of the centre does not match the work timings

The Anganwadiworker and Ayah are paid poor salary

Weaknesses

Strengths and weakness of PDS from a gender lens

Strength

Expands access to food of poor and poorest

Weakness

Exclusion of poor, Inclusion of rich, caste-

discrimination and corruption

Cards mainly on men’s names

Poor WHH not entitled to more rations

Ration shops are mainly run by men

Strength and weakness of food security bill- General

Strength• Entitlements • Greater entitlement for

priority groups • food for destitute,

migrants, homeless etc. • Disaster and food security• PDS can be run by SHG

and Panchayat

Weakness• Not production & utilzn.• Food voucher and cash

transfer -sale-alcohol• Food security allowance

may not work• Production vs demand• Conversion of land• Use of land - bio fuel/feed• Food exports • GM food for consumption

Strength and weakness of food security bill- Gender

Card -F

Free meal to P and L women

Maternity :

Rs 1000 6 months

Food commission to have two

women

Does not

address

Extra rations for WHH

Non pregnant women

malnourished

Women’s names

transfers and vouchers -

Intra-HH inequalities