Despite excess of foodgrains and good crop production, failure to distribute the grains to the needy is the main reason behind starvation and malnutrition in India. The improper distribution system leads to many people to permanently live in a state of famine, said human rights activist Dr Binayak Sen, who was in the city on Monday. Dr Sen, while addressing students at English and Foreign Language Univer-sity, said, “Foodgrains in godowns are rotting as the government has failed to distribute them. Citizens in a few states are facing a famine-like situation. More than 40 per cent children are malnourished.”
According to a recent survey, more than 35 per cent of people fall under the state of ‘chronic energy deficiency’, and the re-ason behind the body ma-ss index of these sections being below 18.5 is lack of nutrition, Dr Sen said.