Ways to Tackle Hunger during COVID-19

COVID-19 has not only caused deaths but has also exacerbated hunger and starvation due to nationwide lockdowns in the country that have led to a massive breakdown in the supply chain networks. These tough times are no less than a “wake-up call” for India to devise a permanent supply chain solution that ensures an uninterrupted supply of food and nutrition as well as timely healthcare and employment for its population.

We are surviving amidst challenging times today! Coronavirus or COVID-19, which is no less than a health catastrophe, has posed a real threat to humankind. World over, lakhs of people are affected and thousands have lost their lives as a result of this respiratory disease. The deadly virus has not even spared the world’s wealthiest and the largest economies from its devastating impact on lives and livelihoods. In India, sadly, the count of positive COVID-19 cases has crossed 30 million with deaths over 0.4 million or < 4 lakh (MoHFW 2020). A nationwide lockdown was announced in March to avoid community transmission of the disease within the Indian states. While this move has been effective to contain the spread of the virus to a large extent, India is also facing another harsh reality—of losing its people not only because of the pandemic but also on account of starvation and a lack of access to timely medical facilities.

This is primarily attributed to the massive breakdown in the domestic supply chain networks in the country as a result of the disruption in economic activities, trade restrictions, and suspension in the local movement of goods, services, and people due to the nationwide lockdown. This has thus resulted in shortages of food supply, essential commodities in the domestic market, and inequitable access to quality healthcare, thereby aggravating the problems of inequality, hunger, poverty, and widespread lay offs in the country.