The UPA Government is looking at the possibility of creating a food security program that may be translated into an actual law in time for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The purpose of the said food security program is to primarily provide more food grain options to citizens. Later on, it should focus on addressing malnutrition, a leading cause of death among residents of the country and other parts of the world.
Amartya Sen, an avid follower of the program said that the human stomach is still the most ideal place for storing food grain. They are looking at the possibility of distributing rice and wheat at affordable prices.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) also revealed that there are several other food types to consider other than carbohydrates. Grains, proteins, sugars, fats and the like should also be looked into.
The same study showed that malnutrition caused 5% loss in the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to productivity losses and treatment expenses. A huge amount of money is spent on providing food grains but majority of which is wasted on providing cure among people who are suffering from malnutrition.
"Before giving distinct food types of citizens because of health benefits, it would first be necessary to ensure that they will never become malnourished", Sen said in an interview.
However, critics of the Food Security Bill believe that getting proper nutrition is more important than filling the stomach or satisfying cravings.
"Instead of just providing food grains, the government should focus on addressing problems of malnutrition among adults and infants first", a concerned citizen said.
Food sanitation is also deemed to be of utmost importance in public health. This, along with proper nutrition and education should be included in Food Security Bill to be passed and promoted by the government.
