The Politics of Hunger in India A Study of Democracy, Governance, and Kalahandi's Poverty

Do people starve in democratic polities? It is often claimed that as government must respond to public needs in times of crisis, democracy has reduced famine in India since Independence. This book seeks to identify the processes which generate and perpetuate hunger in India, and what sort of intervention by public and private agencies are best suited to combat this problem. Drawing on fieldwork in the much publicized Kalahandi district, the author explains why problems of poverty and alleged starvation remain despite regular elections and extensive regional and national publicity.