Thanks, Aadisht and Sruthi, for dragging the discussion back to a sensible, non-juveline plane.
I agree with Aadisht, of course. Also see these: Look at Deaton and Dreze (yes, the same Jean Dreze): http://www.princeton.edu/~deaton/downloads/Food_and_Nutrition_in_India_Facts_and_Interpretations.pdf And this: http://www.princeton.edu/~deaton/downloads/deaton%20dreze%20nutrition%20poverty%20and%20calorie%20fundamentalism%20response%20to%20patnaik%20epw%202010.pdf Also, if you can get hold of this: http://www.worldbank.org.in/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/SOUTHASIAEXT/INDIAEXTN/0,,contentMDK:20592392~menuPK:295604~pagePK:64027988~piPK:64027986~theSitePK:295584,00.htmlit might be useful. Here's an investigation of the absurd results that come from focusing on calorific intake: http://www.jstor.org/pss/4416245 Amit Varma had collected some links here: http://indianeconomy.org/2005/08/23/six-eggs-a-year/ My recent column taking on Utsa's logic: http://www.livemint.com/articles/2011/10/12232748/Life-on-the-Rs32-line.html Thanks, Salil
