April 2020, South Asia
Local food systems and COVID-19; A glimpse on India’s responses
Pramitha Elizabeth Pothan
India, the second-most populous country in the world is under tremendous pressure. The first confirmed case of coronavirus was detected on January 30, 2020, in the state of Kerala. As the pandemic was leaving deep scars around the globe, India was able to foresee the depth of the socioeconomic hit that could be caused shortly by the pandemic. Fortunately, the government has handled the aftermath of the outbreak with the utmost presence of mind so far. The ordinary lives of every Indian took a turn when a nationwide lockdown was declared on 21 March 2020, for 21 days. Even though the Indian government has taken some measures to protect the lives of 1.3 billion people, the COVID-19 cases were increasing day by day. By 20 April 2020, India had 15 712 confirmed cases and 507 deaths. After the 21 days of lockdown, the government has extended the lockdown until 3 May 2020, and restrictions of the least affected areas will be reviewed after 20 April 2020. However, these draconian measures have a drastic effect on the lives of the ordinary people and local food systems.
Despite the fact that India had considerable economic progress over the years, hunger and poverty prevailed in the country. Out of the total population of 1.3 billion people, 190.7 million people are undernourished and 25 percent of the children experience hunger. Along with this existing backdrop of India, the sudden cease of economic activities nationwide will question the rising food insecurity and misery for the destitute. India, the world’s largest democracy has a federal system of government created by the union of twenty-eight states and nine union territories. Even though the central government has greater power when compared to the states, each states’ chief ministers have legislative, judicial and executive responsibilities similar to the Prime Minister. Nevertheless, the States as well as the central government have taken exceptional measures to face the extraordinary challenge with courage and confidence. To have a closer look on the socioeconomic shock on the country, we have identified the immediate effects of the pandemic on the local food systems and the resilient measures adopted by the government to cope with it.
