Talk on "Food Security in India"

On the occasion of World Food Day on 16 October 2021, The Department of Data Science, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, organized a talk on 'Food Security in India'. The resource person for the session was Mr Jelf JR, Social Activist and Member of UN Food System Summit, SDG2 Focal Point. The event was an educational talk session delivered engaging the topic of recent trends in food security in India.

The programme began with the host of the occasion, Teres Augustine, 2nd Year MSc Data Science, presenting the emcee address and welcoming all the participants gathered. She provided a brief overview of food security and its importance and mentioned India's progress yet shortcomings. She welcomed the audience and handed over the session to the faculty organizer for the event, Mr Shine Raju Kappil.

Mr Shine Raju Kappil addressed the gathering by foremost welcoming the audience to the talk. He explained why the talk is much needed and its significance on such a day. 'Food Security in India' was held by the department to celebrate World Food Day and commemorate the foundation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Furthermore, Prof Shine asserted the low ranking position of India in the Global Hunger Index and how a change must come about to help the citizens of the country. He welcomed the event's resource speaker, Mr Jelf JR, and handed over the session.

Mr Jelf JR began with an introduction to the issue of food security in India and led the session by elaborating on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) presented by the United Nations. His presentation included information and insights into the SDGs that deal with food hygiene and water sanitation, the composition of the term "food security" (the financial, economic, and social access to plentiful food to meet dietary needs), and India's initiative to improve food and water security. He also highlighted the factors that affect food security, the food insecurity groups, the historical disasters of droughts, and famines that affected India. Moreover, he expressed the current situation and displayed how foods and greens make the maximum (57%) of the waste composition in India. He concluded the talk by talking about the need to take action as active citizens and tackle the situation by coming up with techniques to reduce the wastage of food in India.

The emcee provided a short vote of thanks and expressed her gratitude to the resource person for the event, Mr Jelf JR. She expressed her appreciation to all of the audience, thus bringing the enlightening session to an end.