NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA It also analyses the steps taken by the government. Moreover, the Commission is a very keen observer of legislation related to food security and eradication of Hunger. 7.8 The NHRC has been emphasizing on the proper implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 and also the flagship schemes namely, the ICDS (Scheme) and the MDMS. It has also been requesting its Special Rapporteurs to provide feedback on the status of implementation of these schemes as well as the food security legislation in the States. A. Open House Discussion on ‘Right to Food and Nutrition’ 7.9 The Open House Discussion held on 12.04.2019 was chaired by Hon’ble Justice Shri H.L. Dattu, Chairperson, NHRC and was attended by Ms. Jyotika Kalra, Member, NHRC and other officials of the commission. The Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Food Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of National Capital Territory (GNCT) Delhi and Department of Social Welfare, GNCT of Delhi were also represented in the Open House Discussion. Several NonGovernmental Organizations, Civil Society Organisations working at the grassroot level were also among the participants. Subject experts, Dr. N.C. Saxena, Former secretary to Government of India, Planning Commission and Prof. K.B. Saxena, Council for Social Development also attended the programme. 7.10 The Open House Discussion focused on the issues of the inclusion and exclusion errors in the identification of beneficiaries under TDPS shortfall in storage capacity with Food Corporation of India against the central pool stock, large leakages of food grains during transportation to and from ration shops into the open market, measures to eliminate malnutrition, anaemia, stunting, wasting, ensuring equitable access to nutritious food by all among others. It also focused on identification of gaps at the policy and implementation level of the National Food Security Act, 2013 and to formulate recommendations for bridging those gaps. The following recommendations emerged from the discussion: 110 i. Distribution of millets through the PDS- PDS being the single largest mechanism to reach the most vulnerable population, there should be a mechanism in place for distribution of millets under the PDS to address the issue of nutritional security. ii. ICDS to shift its focus on children under three- The ICDS programme targets children mostly after the age of three, when malnutrition has already set in. It does not focus on the critical age group of children under three years. It was suggested that the ICDS should focus on the children under the age of three so that the health and nutrition interventions could be most effective. iii. Ensuring food security to the extremely vulnerable population especially the tribalsRation should be ensured to the extreme vulnerable group especially the tribals/adivasis and the receipt of ration by such groups must be available in the public domain in order to ensure transparency in the PDS system. iv. Providing culturally appropriate food to the poor under the PDS- There is a need that culturally appropriate food which will satisfy the nutritional and dietary needs of individuals may be provided under the PDS. ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20