Updates
The Secretariat of the Right to Food Campaign circulates via email regular updates covering a sample of the latest campaign-related news around the country. The campaign also used to maintain a separate set of rozgar updates which focus on the Employment Guarantee Act.
To sign up for RTF Updates, please directly sign-up here or contact the secretariat at righttofoodindia@gmail.com
2024
Right to Food Campaign Public Statement on Union Budget 2024-25
Disappointing budget, decline in critical social welfare spending
No steps to enhance redistribution to address alarming inequality in the country
Click to read the statement here
निराशाजनक बजट, महत्वपूर्ण सामाजिक कल्याण खर्च में गिरावट
देश में फैले चिंताजनक असमानता को दूर करने हेतु पुनर्वितरण को बढ़ाने के लिए कोई कदम नहीं उठाया गया।
End Hunger in Gaza! Stop the War!
Uphold the Right to Food and Freedom of the Palestinian People
The Right to Food Campaign is appalled by the merciless use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza by the Israel government. We are equally dismayed by the Indian government’s continued complicity with this and related war crimes in Gaza.
Click to read the statement here
गज़ा में भुखमरी और युद्ध के विरुद्ध खड़े हों
फिलिस्तीनी लोगों के भोजन और स्वतंत्रता के अधिकार स्थापित करो
भोजन का अधिकार अभियान इज़राइल सरकार द्वारा गज़ा में युद्ध के हथियार के रूप में भुखमरी के निर्दयी उपयोग से निराश हैं। इसके साथ ही हम गज़ा में संबंधित युद्ध अपराधों में भारत सरकार की निरंतर संलिप्तता से समान रूप से चिंतित हैं।
Reports of intense distress and problems being faced by people across the country.
Government must immediately give ration cards to 8 crore migrant/unorganised sector workers as directed by Supreme Court.
Watch the Press Conference organised by the Right to Food Campaign here
Click to read the statement here
देशभर से लोगों को हो रही भारी परेशानी और समस्याओं की खबरें आ रही हैं
सरकार को सुप्रीम कोर्ट के निर्देशानुसार 8 करोड़ प्रवासी/असंगठित क्षेत्र के श्रमिकों को तुरंत राशन कार्ड देना चाहिए
विज्ञप्ति यहां पढ़ें
2023
Right to Food Campaign against the Casteist Attack on the People’s Constitutional Rights | Press Release 02-10-2023
The Right to Food Campaign condemns the Order given by the district collector of Patan, Gujarat to transfer all the ration cards from the Dalit Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealer to another village based on the social boycott that has been continuing against a Dalit dealer by the Thakor Community (upper caste) in Kanosan village. District Collector Arvind Vijayan has transferred the ration cards of all 436 households in Kanosan to the FPS in Edla village in an order dated 12 September 2023.
रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान लोगों के संवैधानिक अधिकारों पर हो रहे जातिवादी हमले के खिलाफ है। प्रेस विज्ञप्ति 02-10-2023
रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान गुजरात के पाटन ज़िला कलेक्टर द्वारा कानोसन गांव में ठाकोर समुदाय (उच्च जाति) की ओर से हो रहे सामाजिक बहिष्कार के आधार पर उचित मूल्य की दुकान (एफ.पी.एस.) के दलित डीलर से सभी राशन कार्ड छीनकर दूसरे गांव में स्थानांतरित करने के आदेश की निंदा करता है। जिला कलेक्टर अरविंद विजयन ने 12 सितंबर, 2023 के एक आदेश में कानोसन के सभी 436 परिवारों के राशन कार्डों को एडला गांव के एफ.पी.एस. में स्थानांतरित कर दिया है।
Right to Food Campaign's Demand for a Dignified Right to Food and Life for All, on the Occasion of World Food Day| Press Release 17-10-2023
The celebration of World Food Day on 16th October began in 1979 to commemorate the founding date of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945. The efforts and objectives to celebrate this day are to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which is 'Zero Hunger'. This is possible through establishing policies and programmes against global hunger issues by governments, policymakers, and stakeholders. These measures are a reminder of sustainable agriculture so that everyone has access to safe, sufficient, and nutritious food.
On the contrary, we are witnessing an attack on people's right to access their basic fundamental right to food and life on all fronts. The Global Hunger Report 2023 recently ranked India at 111 among 125 countries. The ranks are different over the years. However, each year since the report was released in 2006 India has ranked extremely poorly highlighting that hunger and malnutrition remain a serious concern in the country. The current situation post-COVID is even worse and is not entirely reflected in the report as the data are not available.
विश्व खाद्य दिवस के अवसर पर रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान की ओर से सभी के लिए भोजन और जीवन के सम्मानजनक अधिकार की मांग | प्रेस विज्ञप्ति 17-10-2023
16 अक्टूबर को विश्व खाद्य दिवस मनाने की शुरुआत 1945 में संयुक्त राष्ट्र खाद्य और कृषि संगठन की स्थापना तिथि को मनाने के एक तरीके के रूप में 1979 में हुई थी। इस दिन को मनाने के प्रयास और उद्देश्य सतत विकास लक्ष्य 2 की उपलब्धि की दिशा में आगे बढ़ना है। (एसडीजी 2), जो कि 'जीरो हंगर' है। यह सरकारों, नीति निर्माताओं और हितधारकों द्वारा वैश्विक भूख के मुद्दों के खिलाफ नीतियों और कार्यक्रमों की स्थापना के माध्यम से संभव है। ये उपाय टिकाऊ कृषि की भी याद दिलाते हैं ताकि सभी को सुरक्षित, पर्याप्त और पौष्टिक भोजन मिल सके।
इसके विपरीत, हम सभी मोर्चों पर लोगों के भोजन और जीवन के बुनियादी मौलिक अधिकार पर हमला देख रहे हैं। हाल ही में, ग्लोबल हंगर रिपोर्ट 2023 में 125 देशों में भारत को 111वां स्थान दिया गया। विभिन्न वर्षों में रैंक अलग-अलग हैं। हालाँकि, 2006 में रिपोर्ट जारी होने के बाद से हर साल भारत की रैंकिंग बेहद खराब रही है, जिससे यह उजागर होता है कि देश में भूख और कुपोषण एक गंभीर चिंता बनी हुई है। कोविड के बाद की मौजूदा स्थिति और भी बदतर है और डेटा उपलब्ध नहीं होने के कारण रिपोर्ट में यह पूरी तरह से प्रतिबिंबित नहीं होता है।
Public Distribution System is much more than PMGKAY: Improve legal entitlements, not mask them as election doles | Press Release 06-11-2023
The Right to Food Campaign is against the central government’s actions to misrepresent National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA) as their initiative through Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a misrepresentation being used as an election dole.
सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली पीएमजीकेएवाई से कहीं अधिक है: कानूनी अधिकारों में सुधार करें, न कि उन्हें चुनावी खैरात के रूप में छिपाएँ | प्रेस विज्ञप्ति 06-11-2023
रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान प्रधानमंत्री गरीब कल्याण अन्न योजना (पीएमजीकेएवाई) के माध्यम से राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अधिनियम 2013 (एनएफएसए) को अपनी पहल के रूप में गलत तरीके से पेश करने की केंद्र सरकार की कार्रवाई के खिलाफ है, जिसे चुनावी खैरात के रूप में इस्तेमाल किया जा रहा है।
With the increasing corporate threat to Food systems, it is important to look into the ongoing dominance of private players within India's food system in the existing livelihood crisis. Watch the full discussion. The Right to Food Campaign organized a webinar on the “Conflict of Interest in Food System” with speakers Dr. Vandana, Shreegireesh, Lenin Raghuvanshi, and James Herenj.
Statement in Solidarity with the People of Gaza: Global Network for Right to Food Network urgently calls for a ceasefire and the protection of human rights in Palestine
We, the Global Network for the Right to Food and Nutrition (GNRtFN), stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza against the total siege imposed by Israel on Gaza.
खाद्य सुरक्षा जन अधिकार मंच, पश्चिमी सिंहभूम द्वारा "मध्याह्न भोजन में केंद्रित किचन" पर जन चर्चा आयोजित की गई
पश्चिमी सिंहभूम के चार प्रखंडों (सादर, झिंकपानी, खुंटपानी, तांतनगर) के मध्याह्न भोजन में केंद्रीकृत किचन व्यवस्था लागू की गई हैI इस चर्चा में बच्चों और उनके पोषण के लिए काम कर रहे लोगों के बीच चर्चा हुई उनके अनुभवों को लेकर I मंच द्वारा किए गए सर्वेक्षण की रिपोर्ट को 17 दिसंबर को जारी किया गया। बच्चे इससे त्रस्त हैं और पुरानी मध्याह्न भोजन व्यवस्था को पुनः लागू करने की मांग कर रहे हैं। अन्नामृत फ़ाउंडेशन, जो इस्कॉन मंदिर की संस्था है, द्वारा संचालित केंद्रीकृत किचन से मध्याह्न भोजन दिया जा रहा है। ISKCON की संस्था बिना प्याज़ लहसन का खाना आदिवासी बच्चो को खिला रही है। खराब गुणवत्ता और स्वाद पसंद ना आने के कारण बच्चों द्वारा भोजन फेंकना आम बात हो गयी है। अब बच्चे पहले से बहुत कम खा रहे हैं।
यह स्थिति झारखंड के सबसे कुपोषित ज़िले की है, जहां ज़बरदस्ती बच्चों पर ISKCON की संस्था द्वारा संचालित केंद्रीकृत किचन थोपा गया है। इस ट्विटर थ्रेयड में सर्वेक्षण रिपोर्ट व विडियो प्रमाण देखें।
Here is India’s latest “egg map”.
The orange ones are the BJP ruled states. The majority of the BJP ruled states are denying eggs to school children in Mid-day meals and no eggs in Anganwadis too. Why are these governments against the nutrition of children?? Credit: Swati Narayan
People against Digital Personal Data Protection bill that destroys #RTI
National Campaign for Peoples’ Right to Information organized a webinar on “The Problems with Digital Personal Data Protection Bill” on July 29.
Proposed amendments to RTI Act through the #DataProtection Law will be a blow to people's right to information. We oppose these amendments.
#डेटाप्रोटेक्शन कानून के माध्यम से आरटीआई अधिनियम में संशोधन लोगों के सूचना के अधिकार पर प्रहार होगा। हम इन संशोधनों का विरोध करते हैं #SaveRTI
Data Games: Impact on Peoples’ Rights on July 7, 2023
Right to Food Campaign jointly organized a webinar with NCPRI titled “Data Games: Impact on Peoples’ Rights” in July. The webinar had speakers from JSA, Satark Nagrik Sangathan, and Disability Rights Alliance as well as advocates working on disability rights, etc.
डेटा गेम्स: लोगों के अधिकारों पर प्रभाव जुलाई 7, 2023
रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान ने जुलाई में एनसीपीआरआई के साथ संयुक्त रूप से "डेटा गेम्स: लोगों के अधिकारों पर प्रभाव" शीर्षक से एक वेबिनार आयोजित किया। वेबिनार में जेएसए, सतर्क नागरिक संगठन और विकलांगता अधिकार गठबंधन के वक्ताओं के साथ-साथ विकलांगता अधिकारों आदि पर काम करने वाले वकील भी शामिल थे।
केंद्र सरकार डिजिटल व्यक्तिगत डेटा सरंक्षण बिल के ज़रिए संसद सत्र में आरटीआई कानून को खत्म करने की कोशिश कर रही है। जो जानकारी लोग सरकार से ले पाते थे, वह प्राप्त करना नामुमकिन हो जाएगा। भ्रष्टाचार अब बेलगाम किया जाएगा और नागरिकों के अधिकारों का बड़े रूप में हनन होगा। सतर्क नागरिक संगठन, दिल्ली रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान की ओर से महिलाओं के दल ने राजनैतिक दलों को ज्ञापन देने के ज़रिए दबाव बनाने का प्रयास किया।
#ANDADO ABHIYAN BY RIGHT TO FOOD CAMPAIGN
The Right to Food Campaign started a campaign with the demand to ensure eggs in Mid-day meals and Anganwadi centres in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in January.
In Chhattisgarh, the Right to Food Campaign Chhattisgarh and Chhattisgarh Kisan Mazdur Sangathan surveyed 173 Anganwadi carried out from 26/12/22 to 31/12/22 and around 400 schools were surveyed from 2/1/23 to 4/1/23 in the Lundra, Batauli, Udaypur, and Lakhanpur blocks of Surguja district. The survey mainly aimed to gather information about the availability and nutritional value of meals provided to the children, focusing on including eggs in the menu. On 9th January, with the press conference, the campaign raised the demand to include eggs in the feeds of Anganwadi and Mid-day meal programs.
In Jharkhand, the Right to Food Campaign, Jharkhand demands the following certain measures to address the alarming situation of undernutrition in the state.
The Right to Food Campaign issued a public statement on the Union Budget 2023-24
The Right to Food Campaign is shocked to see that, at this time of deep crisis the Union Budget 2022-23 has continued to reduce the government spending on the social sector by a huge extent.
The Right to Food Campaign organised a press conference at the Press Club of India, New Delhi on 6th February 2023
The Union Budget 2023-24 showed inadequacy towards crucial social security schemes, the status of compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court in the migrant workers' case regarding enhancing food security measures, and other issues regarding gaps in MGNREGA, and social security policies.
Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan organised a public meeting at Constitution Club, New Delhi on 10th February 2023 on the food Insecurity & Budget Cuts to discuss the impact of the reduction in the Union Budget & problems faced by people in accessing their rights under the National Food Security Act.
Right to Food Campaign की ओर से James Herenj और Dipa Sinha नई दिल्ली के IIC भवन में कृषि, भूमि और वन के मुद्दों पर हो रही चर्चा में महत्वपूर्ण बात रखी। ज़रूर सुनें
NREGA Workers’ Protest under the banner of NREGA Sangharsh Morcha
मज़दूर विरोधी मोदी सरकार के खिलाफ नरेगा मज़दूरों द्वारा नरेगा संघर्ष मोर्चा के बैनर तले मज़बूत 60 दिन चला दिल्ली में धरना
Right to Food Campaign on Supreme Court’s Order to provide ration cards to Migrant/unorganised workers (01st May 2023)
The Supreme Court in an order dated April 20, 2023, in MA 94/2022 in ‘Re Problems and Miseries of Migrant Labourers’, has given significant directions to ensure food security for migrant workers and unorganised sector workers. 28.60 crores migrants/unorganized workers are registered on the eShram portal, of which 20.63 crores are registered on ration card data. The order directs all State/UT governments to issue ration cards under NFSA to the 8 crore persons who are registered on the eShram portal but do not possess ration cards.
रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान प्रवासी/असगंठित श्रमिकों को राशन कार्ड प्रदान करने के सुप्रीम कोर्ट के आदेश का स्वागत करता है
सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने 20 अप्रैल, 2023 को एमए 94/2022 में 'प्रवासी मज़दूरों की समस्या और दुख' के एक आदेश में प्रवासी श्रमिकों और असंगठित क्षेत्र के श्रमिकों के लिए खाद्य सुरक्षा सनिुश्चित करने हेतु महत्वपर्णूर्ण निर्देश दिए हैं। ई-श्रम पोर्टल पर 28.60 करोड़ प्रवासी/असंगठित श्रमिक पंजीकृत हैं, जिनमेंसे20.63 करोड़ राशन कार्ड डेटा पर पंजीकृत हैं। यह आदेश सभी राज्य/केंद्र शासित प्रदेशों की सरकारों को एनएफएसए केतहत उन 8
करोड़ लोगों को राशन कार्ड जारी करने का निर्देश देता है, जो ई-श्रम पोर्टल पर पंजीकृत हैं, लेकिन उनके पास राशन कार्ड नहीं हैं।
Public Meeting on Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2022 by NCPRI
Anaemia Is an Indisputable Issue for India, Dropping It From NFHS-6 Is a Blunder
Anaemia has continued to be a thorn for India through the years if the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) are to be believed. The NFHS-5, the latest of the surveys, revealed that over 67 percent of children and over 57 percent of women suffer from anaemia. We are now being told that the NFHS is, in fact, not to be believed in this regard. The upcoming NFHS-6 will thus not record anaemia.
Jantar Mantar Protest Site: A Daily Reminder of Shrinking Democracy
The protest by one of the most marginalised sections of the country is an example of strength and at the same time, it reflected the inhuman nature of the Union government that has turned a blind eye after wilfully driving them to the corner.
2022
Successful Public hearing in Varanasi by the Right to Food Campaign Uttar Pradesh along with NAPM Uttar Pradesh, Lok Samiti and Lok Chetna Samiti.
On 11th October 2022, the Public hearing raised essential issues in ration, pension and NREGA. Around 300 people came to the Public hearing and shared their testimonies in front of everyone. People from Varanasi along with a few blocks of Jaunpur district came for the Public Hearing. As a Government representative, Miss. Namrata Srivastav from the Food and Civil Supplies department of Varanasi district came. Some important testimonies and discussions during the Public hearing can be watched here on the Right to Food Campaign’s youtube channel.
Press conference by the Right to Food Campaign flags the alarming situation of hunger in the country and the lack of adequate response by the government
The Right to Food Campaign held a press conference in Delhi on October 21, 2022, highlighting the situation of hunger in India, the inadequate policy response of the government, the Global Hunger Index report, the status of compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court’s regarding enhancing food security in the migrant worker's case and other issues regarding gaps in MGNREGA and social security policies. The press conference was addressed by Anjali Bhardwaj, Dipa Sinha, Harsh Mander, Nikhil Dey and Vandana Prasad. The entire press conference can be watched here on the Right to Food Campaign’s Youtube channel.
Right to Food Campaign’s response to the New Education Policy report in Karnataka
The report by NEP has once again opened up the debate on the merits of giving eggs to children in schools as part of the mid-day meal programme. In arguing for a ‘satvik’ diet for children, this report is not only completely unscientific and baseless but also casteist in denying people food choices. We condemn such reports trying to divert attention away from solving the grave problem of malnutrition by strengthening local food systems and ensuring diverse and healthy diets for everyone. Such reports only serve to perpetuate caste and religious biases, while denying the most marginalised their basic right to food.
The report was released in Jhargram after giving it to the administration. Also given is the case of a leprosy patient who was not given any rations and was forced to beg despite having an AAY card. Sanjay Sardar only had a few fingers and therefore no fingerprints for biometric identification, which has now become compulsory by the Union government to receive ration.
Chhattisgarh Government should not get coerced into fortified rice distribution in public schemes by the Government of India
The state government should adopt responsible, effective and safe solutions to the problem of malnutrition in Chhattisgarh and abandon rice fortification
राज्य सरकार को छत्तीसगढ़ में कुपोषण की समस्या के लिए ज़िम्मेदार, प्रभावी और सुरक्षित समाधान अपनाना चाहिए और चावल फोर्टीफिकेशन का त्याग करना चाहिए।
The Right to Food Campaign and Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA-Kisan Swaraj) has conducted fact-finding in Chhattisgarh from 13th to 15th June 2022 on the fortified rice distribution in food schemes and urged the Chhattisgarh Government to stop the distribution of fortified rice in the state immediately. On 20th June 2022 Fact-finding report was released in an online press conference. The report points to the many serious concerns with regard to the indiscriminate distribution of fortified rice to poor households in the state, and in Anganwadis and schools.
The press release and the presentation of the findings can be found here along with the nationwide findings.
Jharkhand government must stop Government of India's misadventure with rice fortification
फॉर्टिफाइड चावल खिलाकर जनस्वास्थ्य के साथ खिलवाड़ करना बंद करे झारखंड सरकार (कार्यकर्ताओं ने राज्य में फोर्टिफाइड चावल का वितरण बंद करने की मांग की)
At the end of a 3-day fact-finding visit in Jharkhand by Right To Food Campaign (RTFC) and Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA-Kisan Swaraj), team members urged the Jharkhand Government to stop distribution of fortified rice in the state immediately. The Fact Finding Report was released in a press conference. The report points to the many serious concerns with regard to the indiscriminate distribution of fortified rice to poor households in the state, and in Anganwadis and schools.
Targeting the consumption and sale of meat in India is an attack on the Right to Food and Nutrition
Open letter released on 5th May 2022 | Ahara Namma Hakku/Our Food, Our Right/ हमारा भोजन हमारा अधिकार
As a group of concerned activists, doctors, nutritionists, parents, advocates and researchers, we are deeply concerned at the recent irrational attacks on the food habits and nutrition rights of people, in the form of laws, bans and calls to boycott the sale and consumption of meat. While these bans and calls to boycott meat have been isolated incidents as of now, this culture of interfering in people’s choice of food and livelihood may have serious social, economic and nutritional consequences if not countered.
Second Hunger Watch Survey
A national survey by the Right to Food Campaign titled ‘Hunger Watch’ carried out in the months of December 2021 & January 2022 by interviewing around 6700 households of vulnerable communities across 14 states captures the crisis in terms of income decline and severe food insecurity, especially among the economically weaker and marginalized sections of society:
66% of people stated that their income had decreased compared to the pre-pandemic period
80% reported some form of food insecurity while 25% reported severe food insecurity in terms of having to skip meals, eating less than usual, running out of food, not being able to eat for a whole day and going to bed hungry due to lack of money or other resources.
41% said that the nutritional quality of their diet deteriorated compared to the pre-pandemic period.
67% could not afford cooking gas in the month preceding the survey.
45% of households had outstanding debt.
The full conference is available here.
The Hunger Watch interim findings.
The Right to Food Campaign sent a letter to the Prime Minister of India on taking urgent steps required for ensuring universal access to food security.
रोज़ी रोटी अधिकार अभियान द्वारा प्रधानमंत्री को खाद्य सुरक्षा के सार्वभौमिक पहुँच सुनिश्चित करने के लिए आवश्यक तत्काल कदम उठाने की मांग करते हुए पत्र भेजा गया।
The Right to Food Campaign released a statement on the reduced spending of Union Budget 2022-23 (English/Hindi)
The statement focussed and raised the demands with the crucial need of spending on social sectors in the present deep crisis while the current budget had declined with poor budgetary allocation.
Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan sent a letter to Delhi Chief Minister demanding immediate relief for working and vulnerable households amid the Covid-19 third wave. (English/Hindi)
2021
DRRA writes to Delhi CM over no ration to those without cards
A Survey conducted by Delhi Rozi Roti Adhikar Abhiyan says that 106 schools in Delhi, which are designated as ration distribution points for providing foodgrains to people without ration cards, were not distributing foodgrains as they had no stock of rations. Out of 282 schools, 106 are functioning as designated distribution points which is a clear non-compliance with directions of the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court.
Right to Food Campaign sent a letter to the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (November 8, 2021)
The letter focussed on raising the demand for Pradhanmantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana extension and the universalisation of the Public Distribution System.
People’s Action for Employment Guarantee (PAEG) and LibTech India jointly hosted a press conference on 29 October, 2021. Prof. Jayati Ghosh, Nikhil Dey and Dr. Rajendran Narayanan were the panelists at the Press Conference.
Two-day India Counter Dialogue on the United Nations Food Systems Summit
Right to Food Campaign along with Jan Sarokar and Focus Global South organised a two-day event. The Right to Food Campaign covered the Food and Nutrition session on 3rd September 2021.
Janta Parliament: Response to the Monsoon Session 2021
Jan Sarokar organised Janta Parliament as a three-day session from 9th-11th September. The Right to Food Campaign covered the food and nutrition session on the second day of the Janta Parliament.
Update Archives (since 2003)