What is Health Justice?

Health Justice is the principle that everyone deserves equitable access to quality healthcare services and the conditions necessary for good health, free from discrimination. It addresses systemic barriers and disparities in health outcomes based on social, economic, or geographic factors, ensuring health as a fundamental human right.

What is Nutrition Justice?

Nutrition Justice asserts that all individuals have the right to adequate, safe, and nutritious food to lead an active and healthy life. It tackles food insecurity, malnutrition, and the social determinants that prevent equitable access to diverse and healthy diets, ensuring food as a basic human entitlement.

How does Article 21 relate to health and nutrition?

Article 21, the Right to Life, has been broadly interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the right to live with human dignity, which encompasses the right to health, medical care, and adequate nutrition. This makes health and nutrition fundamental rights, obligating the State to ensure their provision.

What is the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013?

The NFSA 2013 is a landmark act that legally entitles up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban populations to subsidized food grains through the Public Distribution System. It also includes provisions for maternity benefits and nutritious meals for children, formalizing the 'right to food' in India.

What are the key objectives of POSHAN Abhiyaan?

POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia (among young children, women, and adolescent girls), and low birth weight by 2% per annum each. It employs a multi-sectoral approach, leveraging technology, community mobilization, and inter-departmental convergence to achieve these targets.

How does Ayushman Bharat contribute to health justice?

Ayushman Bharat contributes to health justice through two pillars: PMJAY, providing health insurance cover for secondary/tertiary care to vulnerable families, and Health and Wellness Centres, offering comprehensive primary healthcare. It aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and expand access to quality healthcare for all.

What are the main challenges in achieving nutrition security in India?

Main challenges include persistent poverty, inadequate access to diverse diets, poor sanitation and hygiene, low maternal education, gender disparities in food distribution, implementation gaps in schemes, and the 'double burden' of under-nutrition and rising obesity/NCDs.

What is the current status of stunting in India?

According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), 35.5% of children under 5 years in India are stunted. While this is a reduction from NFHS-4 (38.4%), it still indicates a significant prevalence of chronic undernutrition, reflecting long-term nutritional deprivation.

Which constitutional articles ensure right to food?

The right to food is primarily ensured by Article 21 (Right to Life), as interpreted by the Supreme Court, and Article 47 (Duty of the State to raise nutrition levels). Article 39(e) and (f) also indirectly support this by protecting the health and development of workers and children.

What is the difference between stunting and wasting?

Stunting is low height-for-age, indicating chronic undernutrition and long-term nutritional deprivation. Wasting is low weight-for-height, indicating acute undernutrition, often due to recent severe food shortage or illness. Both are critical indicators of child malnutrition.

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Constitutional Framework of Social Justice

Health and Nutrition Justice

Social Justice & Welfare

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Version 1Updated 9 Mar 2026

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The Constitution of India, through its Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy, lays the foundational framework for health and nutrition justice. Article 21, guaranteeing the 'Right to Life and Personal Liberty', has been expansively interpreted by the Supreme Court to include the right to live with human dignity, encompassing the right to health, clean environment, and adequat…

Quick Summary

Health and Nutrition Justice in India is rooted in the constitutional mandate of a welfare state, evolving into a rights-based approach. At its core, it asserts that every citizen has an equitable right to quality healthcare and adequate nutrition, essential for a dignified life.

This principle is primarily derived from Article 21 (Right to Life), which the Supreme Court has expansively interpreted to include the right to health and nutrition. Article 47, a Directive Principle, explicitly tasks the State with improving public health and raising nutrition levels, while Article 39(e) and (f) focus on protecting the health and development of workers and children.

Key legislative frameworks include the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, which provides legal entitlements to subsidized food grains through the Public Distribution System (PDS) and maternity benefits.

Major schemes like the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal Scheme (now PM POSHAN) address child and maternal nutrition, while the National Health Mission (NHM) and Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY and Health & Wellness Centres) aim to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and achieve universal health coverage.

Despite significant policy efforts, India faces persistent challenges, as evidenced by NFHS-5 (2019-21) data, showing high rates of stunting (35.5%), wasting (19.3%), and anaemia (57% among women, 67% among children).

These challenges are exacerbated by intersectional factors like caste, gender, economic status, and geographic disparities. India's performance in the Global Hunger Index (GHI 2023 ranking 111th) further highlights the urgency.

Achieving health and nutrition justice requires a multi-sectoral approach, robust implementation, and addressing systemic inequities to ensure that constitutional promises translate into tangible improvements for all citizens.

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Article 21: Right to Life (includes health, nutrition)

Article 47: State's duty to raise nutrition & public health

Article 39(e)(f): Protection of workers & children

NFSA 2013: Right to food, 75% rural/50% urban coverage

ICDS 1975: Child (0-6) & maternal nutrition, education

PM POSHAN (MDMS) 1995: School meals (Class I-VIII)

NHM 2013: Public health system strengthening, RMNCH+A

Ayushman Bharat 2018: PMJAY (₹5L insurance) & HWCs (primary care)

POSHAN Abhiyaan 2018: Mission to reduce stunting, wasting, anaemia

PMMVY: ₹6,000 maternity benefit for first child

NFHS-5 (2019-21) Stunting: 35.5%

NFHS-5 Wasting: 19.3%

NFHS-5 Underweight: 32.1%

NFHS-5 Anaemia (women 15-49): 57%

NFHS-5 Anaemia (children 6-59 months): 67%

MMR (SRS 2018-20): 97 per lakh live births

IMR (SRS 2020): 28 per 1000 live births

GHI 2023 India Rank: 111th (out of 125), 'Serious' category

Landmark Judgments: PUCL v. UoI (Right to Food), Olga Tellis (Right to Livelihood), Paschim Banga (Emergency Medical Aid)

SDGs: Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 3 (Good Health & Well-being)

Vyyuha Quick Recall: HEALTH-N for Health and Nutrition Justice

H - Healthcare Access: Ensuring equitable and affordable access to quality healthcare services for all citizens. E - Equity & Entitlements: Focusing on non-discrimination and legal entitlements (e.

g., NFSA) rather than mere welfare. A - Article 21 & 47: The constitutional bedrock – Right to Life (Art 21) and State's duty for nutrition & public health (Art 47). L - Legislative Framework: Key laws like NFSA 2013 and major schemes (ICDS, NHM, Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan).

T - Targets & Trends: Monitoring progress against SDGs, GHI, and national indicators (stunting, wasting, MMR, IMR). H - Human Capital: Recognizing health and nutrition as crucial investments for national development and productivity.

N - Nutrition Security: Moving beyond food security to ensure diverse, safe, and adequate nutrient intake for all ages.

Health and Nutrition Justice

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