Question

How have government food assistance resources (SNAP, WIC) addressed increased food assistance needs and where do we go from here? What policy or proposal do you think has been beneficial? What new ideas do you have to better help those needing assistance? How can we advocate as health professionals? Have you seen any issue with WIC approved food items?

Answer 1

It is the policy of the government to store food grain as much as possible and it is done to manage when there appears crisis. The particular department of the government takes the responsibility to store food and supply the food when there is great natural calamity or pandemic people do not have the option to do work. In such situation the food grains are distributed to the people free of cost from government store. Every year government store many types of food grains and through rationing system the previous stored food grains are distributed to the people and again new food grains are collected from the farmers.

It is really beneficial to the people. The farmer get proper value of the food grains. On the other hand in the crisis like draught for flood people are given food grains. The store is so large that it can continue many days. In the government policy the internal food security is ensured by the government.

Now the whole world is suffering from pandemic covid-19. In this situation large number of people have lost their job. Even they face problems to preserve their existence. In such situation the government policy is very effective. Now the poor people and the middle class people are given free ration so that there is no scarcity of food grains.

As health worker one should advise the government to supply the food grains that contain protein and Vitamin. Only rice and wheat cannot fulfill the need of the body. Especially the children and the pregnant women suffer greatly. Therefore the government should provide pulses and other nutritious food to the people so that the nutritional value is provided and they do not suffer from malnutrition.