National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
Why in news: The Union Cabinet on Friday decided to provide free food grains to all 81 crore beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for one year.
More about the news and the related context behind the move:
- The beneficiary families under the NFSA who used to pay ₹1 for coarse cereals, ₹2 for wheat and ₹3 for rice per kilogram will now get 35 kg of food grains a month free of cost for the next one year.
- Others will get five kilogram free each month till December 2023.
- The Centre has estimated an additional amount of ₹2 lakh crore for the scheme.
- The entire expenses of the scheme would be borne by the Centre.
- A decision was also taken to extend the benefits of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, PMGKAY (Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) and the NFSA to more people by merging them.
- The PMGKAY, launched during the lockdown in April 2020, was scheduled to end on December 31, 2022.
Key features of the NFSA,2013:
- The National Food Security Act(NFSA) was passed in 2013 with the intention of moving away from welfare based approach towards rights based approach.
- The Act provides for the food and nutritional security by adopting the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to an adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices for people.
Life cycle approach under NFSA, 2013
- It made the right to food as a legal right under the act.
- The act almost covers the 2/3rd of the Country’s population.
- Under the act up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the Urban Population are eligible to receive the food grains which are subsidized through the Targeted Public Distribution System.
- The NFSA,2013 is implemented though out the all Indian States and UTs.
- The Act ensures nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant and lactating women would be entitled to nutritious meals, free of charge under the MDM and ICDS schemes.
- Maternity benefit of not less than Rs.6000 is also provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
- Children in the age group of 6-14 years would also be entitled to free nutritious meals under the MDM and ICDS schemes.
- The Act also empowers women by identifying the eldest woman of the household as the head of the household to issue ration cards.
Benefits under the scheme:
- Women empowerment: Giving the ration card under the name of the female rises her position and recognizing her importance in the family.
- Special care taken towards pregnant ladies and children.
- It provides nutritional security to huge chunk of population.
Issues under the scheme:
- Migrants issue: Though eligible to receive the entitlements under the scheme, unable to take the ration.
- Poor quality of grains being provided to the beneficiaries under the scheme.
- Lack of transparency and accountability for the loss of grains and also issues of black marketing.
- No revision in the central issue price since the starting of the scheme.
Way forward:
- One nation one ration card should be implemented in all states and UTs with increased rate of implementation.
- Central issue price should be revised to take into account all costs and prices.
- Use of technology for the issues of transparency and accountability.
- It takes into account all aspects of food security.
Syllabus: GS2 – welfare measures for the vulnerable sections of the society
