A National Food Security (NFS) Act, 2010 is in the offing. The bill as originally
proposed has been reviewed by an empowered Group of Ministers under
Mr Pranab Mukerji and more importantly by the National Advisory Council
(NAC) headed by Ms Sonia Gandhi. In its meeting held in July 2010, in the words
of Dr M.S. Swaminathan, Member, the NAC has ‘provided a broad framework to
achieve the goal of food for all and forever’ but this framework has been severely
criticised at least in some circles as a setback in the struggle for an effective and
equitable food security law. This article examines a way forward.
This is a draft report authored by me of a Social Audit of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme conducted in the District of Anantapur in the state of Andhra Pradesh during 2008 – 09, sponsored by the Council for Social Development, New Delhi, India’s leading think tank on social development issues and coordinated by me. The recommendations are presently being refined by me based on two workshops held in July-August, 2009 to consider this draft report and the final Report would come out shortly in the form of a book. Meanwhile, please feel free to quote from this draft report duly acknowledging the source. For any clarifications please write to me at vkasba@hotmail.com
