Right to Food

Recently, Indian government argued for people’s right to food in Supreme Court by supporting Genetically Modified (GM) crops as against the alleged environmental damage by it.

• Right to Food – It implies the right to food at appropriate nutritional levels and the quantum of relief to those in distress must meet those levels in order to ensure that this right is actually secured and does not remain a theoretical concept.
• It is inherent to a life with dignity according to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
• Legality – Article 21 of the Constitution of India should be read with Articles 39(a) and 47 to ensure the effective realization of right to food.
  • Article 21 – Fundamental right to life and personal liberty.
  • Article 39(a) – State to direct its policies towards securing that all its citizens have the right to an adequate means of livelihood.
  • Article 47 – State to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living of its people as a primary responsibility.
• Thus it is a guaranteed Fundamental Right which is enforceable under Article 32.
• Extended rights – Right to free from hunger and that starvation constitutes a gross denial and violation of this right.

SDG  2 is about creating a world free of hunger by 2030.