India is the world’s second largest food producer and yet is also home to the second-highest population of undernourished people states the Global Hunger Index 2017 (GHI) report.
Consequently, India falls into the ‘serious’ category in this year’s GHI.
Malnutrition and hunger are one of the reasons of the deaths of over 7000 Indians almost every day. 1/3rd of the world’s hungry citizens live in India and we are house to 1 in 4 children who is malnourished.
These are the numbers speaking of the country whose 1% privileged population acquire 50% of the country’s wealth.
The stark irony is that over 20 crore Indians will still sleep hungry tonight…
But what can we as individuals do to reverse this? This is the question we asked these committed individuals and groups working towards a goal to reach zero hunger and malnutrition in the country.
Srishti Jain, Co-founder, Feeding India, a not-for-profit social organisation aiming at solving the problem of hunger and food waste in the country says, “Our main objective is to use excess food as the solution for hunger.
I believe that an individual can also contribute towards the motive. They can volunteer with organisations and help by picking up excess food from various spots and outlets in the city.
“People can report to us when they see excess food being wasted and we can then pick them up. Individuals, institutions, societies etc. can also help in setting up a community fridge at their locality, cafe, canteen, hostels etc. so that people can store the leftover food that can be then distributed to those in need.
Lastly, awareness is the key. People should know that there are organisations in the city who can feed the needy with the food that they feel is wasted and can only be thrown away.
“We believe that rather than giving food to random people on the streets, we wanted to feed people who actually needed and deserved it hence we give the food to people as a motivation to come to schools or skill development centres.
“Moreover, checking on the quality of the food donated should be taken under consideration. People should donate food to others only when they themselves can consume it.
It is however better to get an intermediator who can vouch for the quality and then take responsibility in every case,” adds Jain.
Feeding India was also awarded by PM Narendra Modi and by the Queen of England at the Buckingham Palace for its contribution towards ending hunger in the country.
“People should in the first place skip cooking and wasting excess food,” says a volunteer of the Robin Hood Army.
“They should look at reducing the wastage of food products while cooking any dish and also taking what they can eat. These smaller steps should be taken into consideration.
“The second part is relocating the excess food and giving it to the needy. We try to bridge the gap between the food produced and making it reach to those in need.
“The hunger problem is huge and we are doing only one percent to fill the gap. It is however every individual’s responsibility to avoid food wastage and whenever there is excess food, report to institutions who can then give them to the deprived,” he adds.
Vikrant Manik believes that we are struggling with making the produce reach the common man, but with producing food for them.
“The entire channel from producing the food, to it reaching the people is disrupted.
Those who can afford, stock on the food that the others do not get the chance to buy for their daily needs. Also corruption, political interventions also end up eating a lot from the plate of the poor.
“It is unfortunate that while today we discuss this, many will be sleeping hungry. The entire channel of middleman, policy makers, politicians, diplomats etc. do not pay head to the basic necessity of the voters that have given the power,” he quips.
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#All views are those of the respondent’s and Pune365 doesnot necessarily subscribe to them.
Reach her at loveleen@pune365.com or tweet @KaurKaur18
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