National Food Security Act 2013

The National Food Security Act of 2013 (also known as the "Right to Food Act") is an Indian Act of Parliament that intends to give subsidized food grains to roughly two thirds of the 1.3 billion people of the nation.  On September 12, 2013, it became official.

 

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA 2013) establishes legal entitlements for the Government of India's ongoing food security programs. It consists of the Public Distribution System, Integrated Child Development Services Program, and Midday Meal Program. Additionally, the NFSA 2013 acknowledges maternity entitlements. The PDS will reach to around two-thirds of the population (75% in rural regions and 50% in urban areas), in contrast to the Midday Meal Scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, which are both universal in character.

 

In accordance with the bill's terms, PDS recipients are entitled to 5 kilograms (11 lb.) of cereal per person per month at the following prices:

*Rice @rs3 per kilogram

*Wheat for @rs2 per kilogram.

*Millet, coarse grains, at $1 per kilogram.

 

Daily free cereals are available to pregnant women, breastfeeding moms, and specific groups (categories) of children. 

 

The law has generated a lot of controversy. On December 22, 2011, it was introduced into the Indian Parliament. On July 5, 2013, it was made into a presidential ordinance, and on September 12, 2013, it became law. The Odisha government declared implementation of the act would take into effect in 14 districts on November 17, 2015. On December 24, 2015, the Assam government adopted the Act. 

 

with a consistent entitlement of 5 kg per person per month, up to 79.56% of the rural population and 64.43% of the urban population will be covered under the TPDS. However, because Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households are for the poorest of the poor and currently have a right to 35 kg per household per month, this right will be safeguarded for current AAY households at 35 kg per household per month. 

 

The Central Government will decide on the State-wise coverage, which will correspond to the 75% and 50% coverage rates for all of India in the rural and urban areas, respectively. Using data from the NSS Household Consumption Survey for 2011–12, the Planning Commission has determined the State-wise coverage. 

For a period of three years following the date the Act is enacted, food grains covered by TPDS shall be made accessible at discounted pricing of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat, and coarse grains. Prices will thereafter be appropriately tied to the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Any State's allocation under the Act will be safeguarded up to the level of the average off take under the normal TPDS during the previous three years, at prices to be decided by the Central Government, in the event that it is less than the State's present allocation. The issue prices for the additional allocation to protect the average off take over the previous three years have been decided to be the current prices for APL families, which are Rs. 6.10 per kg for wheat and Rs. 8.30 per kg for rice.

 

Within the scope of the TPDS coverage specified for each State, States/UTs are responsible for identifying eligible households.

 

Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) programs, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children aged 6 months to 14 years will be entitled to meals prepared in accordance with the nutritional standards. Malnourished youngsters up to the age of six have been advised to follow higher nutritional standards.

 

Women who are pregnant or lactating mother will have the right to collect maternity benefits worth at least Rs. 6,000.

 

For the purposes of issuing ration cards, the eldest woman in the home aged  at least 18 years or above in order to serve as the household's leader.

 

District and State-level grievance mechanisms. States will have the freedom to set up separate mechanisms or utilize the existing ones.

 

The Central Government will help States cover their costs for intra-State food grain transportation, handling, and FPS Dealers' Margin in accordance with standards developed for this purpose. 

 

The provision of a food security allowance to eligible recipients in the event that their meals or food grains are not provided as required.

 

It is to be enforced by the State Food Commission, in the event that they disobey the relief that the District Grievance Redressal Officer recommends. 

 

In order to ensure the maintenance of transparency and accountability provision has been made for the disclosure of  records relating to PDS , social audits and establishment of vigilance committees.

 

The National Food Security Bill, 2011, Twenty Seventh Report, a report from the Lok Sabha committee, explains the purpose of the National Food Security Bill as follows: "Food security means availability of sufficient food grains to meet the domestic demand as well as access, at the individual level, to adequate quantities of food at affordable prices." 

 

The paper continues, "From the existing welfare strategy to a right-based one, the proposed legislation represents a paradigm leap in tackling the challenge of food security. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System, over 67 percent of the population will be eligible to receive subsidized food grains. The program's significance grows dramatically in a country where approximately 40% of youngsters are undernourished. 

 

The Bill has been referred to as the "largest ever experiment in the world for distributing substantially subsidized food by any government through a "rights based" approach" by the Commission on Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) of the Indian Ministry of Agriculture.

 

 The Targeted Public Distribution System, India's main home food distribution program, will now be available to two thirds of the population, or roughly 820 million people, under the Bill. The initial estimation made by the Lok Sabha Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs, and Public Distribution was that "the overall requirement of food grains, as per the Bill, would be 61.55 million [metric] tones in 2012–2013.