In recent years, one serious issue is clearly visible in our country- prices of daily food items are continuously increasing, but income of common people is not increasing in the same way. This situation is creating a big gap between rich and poor. As a result, many people are struggling even to manage basic food for their family. This is not only an economic problem. It is also a human rights issue. The right to food is a basic human right, but due to rising inequality and inflation, many people are being indirectly denied this right. Therefore, it is important to understand how economic inequality and market forces are affecting the right to food in our society.
In our society, economic inequality, I mean unequal distribution of income and wealth among people is increasing day by day. Some people are becoming richer, while many others are finding it harder to survive. This inequality is not only about money. It also affects access to education, health services and other opportunities. People with low income have limited choices in life. They cannot invest in good nutrition, proper healthcare and quality education. So, when inequality becomes high, it creates an unfair system where some people live with abundance, while others struggle for basic needs like food. This condition directly challenges the universal principle of equal human dignity.
Nowadays, almost everyone clearly knows that inflation is an increase in the prices of goods and services as the prices of rice, oil, vegetables, pulses and other daily food items have increased significantly in recent years in Nepal. However, the income of most people, especially daily wage workers, farmers and low-salary employees has not increased accordingly. Due to this, people’s purchasing power is decreasing. Even if they earn the same amount of money as before, they can buy less food than before. Families are forced to reduce the quantity and quality of food. Some may skip meals, while others may shift to less nutritious food options. This situation is more serious in low-income rural and urban families. Unfortunately they are helpless, as they have no control over it. Therefore, inflation is not just a number in economic reports, it directly affecting the stomach of people.
According to the principle of the right to food, every person should have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food at all times. It is recognized as a fundamental human right in international frameworks and also in our national commitments. However, in reality, many people are unable to realize this right. When a family cannot afford basic food due to high prices and low income, their right to food is violated, not directly by law, but indirectly by the system. As Food is not a luxury item, it is essential for survival, health and human dignity. If a person is hungry, they cannot live a productive and meaningful life.
Economic inequality and inflation are deeply connected to food insecurity. When inequality is high, a large portion of the population already has low income. When inflation rises, these people are hit the hardest. Rich people can still afford food even if prices increase. But poor people have to struggle. This creates a situation where the same market system benefits some people while harming others. Market forces alone cannot ensure fairness. The idea that “market will adjust everything” does not work in reality for basic human needs like food. When food becomes expensive, it is not just a market outcome, it becomes a human rights concern. In this way, inequality and inflation together create a cycle where poor people become poorer and more vulnerable to hunger.
Addressing this issue is becoming increasingly important in a country like Nepal, where a large portion of the the population continues to struggle with poverty and basic survival. Many families depend on remittances, daily wages, subsistence or small-scale agriculture. Their income is not stable. At the same time, market prices are continuously increasing. And, urban areas are also facing high living costs. Rent, transportation and food prices are rising. Not only lower-class families but middle-class families are also feeling pressure in Nepal.
In rural areas, although some farmers produce food, they still face challenges like low productivity, lack of market access and climate-related problems. As a result, even farmers are not fully food secure. This shows that the problem is not only production, but also distribution, affordability and inequality. If development only focuses on economic growth and ignores inequality, then such problems will continue. Growth without fairness cannot ensure human rights. Therefore, government policies should focus on protecting vulnerable groups. This can include price control mechanisms, food subsidies, social protection mechanism/programs and support for local agriculture.
There is also a need to strengthen systems that ensure fair wages and income opportunities. When people have stable income, they can better handle inflation. Development should not only be about increasing GDP. It should be about improving the quality of life and ensuring that basic rights like food are accessible to all.
Overall, economic inequality and inflation are not just economic issues, they are deeply connected to human rights. When people cannot afford food, their basic right to live with dignity is affected. In a society where some people waste food and others sleep hungry, there is a serious imbalance. This imbalance is not natural, it is created by government led market systems and policies that fail to ensure fairness. Therefore, it is important to view the right to food not just as a charity issue, but as a matter of justice and human rights. Only then can we move towards a more equal and fair society.
United Nations. (1999). The right to adequate food (Article 11). Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 12.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as freedom. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
World Bank. (2023). Nepal development update: Restoring export competitiveness. Washington, DC: World Bank.
