Why Modi govt’s prized food scheme went from ‘dal of choice’ to no dal at all (MSN India)

MSN India published an article stating that providing free foodgrain to India’s poor has been the mainstay of the Narendra Modi government’s Covid-19 relief package for the vulnerable sections of Indian society and has seen multiple extensions as the pandemic continued its devastating spread across India. Yet this scheme has seen significant changes when it comes to the allocation of pulses, considered to be an important source of protein intake. In an IFPRI study, researchers found that pulses, and not meat, fish, or eggs, were key sources of protein in rural India due to cost factors. Senior Research Fellow Purnima Menon said, “The dietary challenges that face Indian households are substantial; several studies show that diets are poor and that nutritious diets are unaffordable for a majority of Indians. Any addition of pulses to Indian diets through their inclusion in the PDS will be useful.” She added that studies at IFPRI show that the improvements in consumption require substantial additional subsidies, and not just small amounts. Also published in The Print.