Covid-19-induced Disruptions: Impact And Challenges for Nutrition Security in India

Abstract

Despite having targeted food security programs for decades, India still face high level of hunger crisis with large-scale under nutrition and micro nutrient deficiencies as highlighted by the NFHS-5 data, even before the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. The unfolding crisis of Covid-19 since March 2020 in India has had profound impact on food security and nutrition. It has affected food systems and threatened access to nutritious food especially of the vulnerable groups, undermining the right to food and stalling efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goal of “Zero hunger.” This paper analyses the nutrition crisis that resulted due to closure of anganwadi centres and midday meal schools in India as part of nation-wide lockdown, through which supplementary nutritious meals were being provided to the targeted groups. At the end it provides insights to address the hunger and under nutrition pandemic to help deal better during future adversities.