The Supreme Court of India has declined to issue any directive on setting up community kitchens to address hunger and malnutrition in the country. The court acknowledged the issue but stated that:
- Existing schemes like the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and other welfare programs already aim to ensure food access at affordable prices.
- They didn't want to judge whether community kitchens are a better alternative without evaluating other programs.
- The responsibility to implement welfare schemes lies with the states and union territories.
Key Takeaways:
- The court leaves the decision to establish community kitchens up to individual states and UTs.
- This means states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, etc., with existing community kitchens, can continue and potentially expand them.
- Other states considering this option will have to decide based on their resources and needs.
Arguments Presented:
The petition, filed by activists, highlighted:
- High number of child deaths due to hunger and malnutrition, violating fundamental rights.
- Success of state-run community kitchens in providing subsidized meals hygienically.
- Examples of similar programs in other countries.
Court's Reasoning:
- Existing schemes, like NFSA, already address food access at affordable prices.
- Need for further evaluation before advocating for specific programs like community kitchens.
- Individual states and UTs are responsible for implementing welfare schemes.
Potential Impact:
- May encourage wider adoption of community kitchens in states that see it as a feasible solution.
- Leaves responsibility and decision-making power with individual states and UTs.
- Raises questions about the central government's role in addressing hunger and malnutrition beyond existing schemes.
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