Let us all first ask ourselves this question–What makes us waste food? 

Well, the answer is—because we either think that food is very easy to get, or we do not care for it. Wastage happens because people who get food but waste it, do not realise the pain of the others who have to struggle for it.  

The Miserable truth–

There is a remarkable tolerance for inequity and human suffering.

The Hunger and Malnutrition have yet to be eradicated– which is a moral and technical failure in the world. India produces sufficient food to meet the needs of the total population but is still incompetent in providing nourishment to Starving women and children because of its criminal wastefulness. Despite the remarkable strides made in economic growth and the technological boom, the country continues to struggle to achieve freedom from hunger. 

India has moved from the 94th rank in the year 2010 to 102nd in 2019 on the ‘Global Hunger Index’, with an increase in the incidence of wasting among children under five. This contributes to most of our country’s poor performance. 

The Consequences—

India accounts for more than four out of ten stunted children globally. The reason is lack of good quality food, poor care and feeding practices, inadequate water, sanitation and health services. Undernourishment drastically affects our children, impairs their mental and physical development and damages the country’s economic prospects. 

For most Children, chronic Malnutrition begins in the womb itself, with 30% having low birth weight. As 85-90% of our brain develops in the first two years of birth, the quality of nutrition during this stage determines the long-run physical health, learning ability and productivity. Undernourishment can lower a child’s IQ, increase the risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases and reduce productivity.

End Food Wastage to Feed Millions— A report by ‘The Food and Agriculture Organisation’ [FAO] estimated that almost half of the food produced globally, is never eaten. The FAO has been working hard, to tailor programs in the field and to understand- how to enable food loss and waste. A Food Loss Index has been developed, which will allow countries to measure the amount of food lost after harvest and through storage, transportation and processing.

India needs to mobilise large-scale investments in cold storage methods, refrigerated transport and other modern logistics to rationalise its food supply chain. 

Solution—

One of the significant ways of enhancing food security in India is by merely controlling wastage and through better processing and recycling. Every year, the Government purchases millions of tonnes of grain from the farmers. The truth is that most of the produce is left out in the open, vulnerable to rain and attacks by rodents. India is estimated to use more than 240 cubic kilometres of fresh water every year, for producing food that will be ultimately wasted. This amount of water is enough to provide drinking water to 100 million people every year. 

EKAM Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aids in building and sustaining a community culture and platform that supports and encourages people to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Proper Nutrition is very important for a disease-free life.

Every citizen of the country has the right to clean and healthy food.

So, connect with EKAM at www.ekamoneness.org to help the community ensure this.