Impact of COVID-19, Lockdowns and Economic Slowdown on Food and Nutrition Security in India

ABSTRACT

The two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in India have resulted in widespread food insecurity and hunger in the country as a result of the burden of health expenditure and illness, economic slowdown and loss of livelihoods. Given the context of high levels of malnutrition and some reversal in the gains made in the last decade, this could have serious long-term implications. The response of the government in the form of additional benefits for PDS beneficiaries and some continuation of school meals and supplementary nutrition under ICDS scheme has been inadequate. This paper argues that there is a need to use the pandemic as an opportunity to expand and strengthen these schemes with a view of making the food system more equitable. As immediate measures, universalisation of the PDS including pulses and oil and strengthening of direct nutrition programmes for children and women are imperative. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.