05 September 2022 – The Indian Express

NFSA

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013:

• In addition to ensuring food and nutritional security for the whole of a person’s life cycle, the objective is to ensure that decent food is available in adequate quantities and at prices that allow people to live respectably.

Important features include:

• Coverage and entitlement under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): The TPDS has a consistent entitlement of 5 kg per person per month and covers 50% of the urban population and 75% of the rural population. The Antyodaya Anna Yojana, however, would continue to provide 35 kg of food grains per home each month to the poorest people (AAY).
• Rice, wheat, and coarse grains would be made available through the TPDS programme for three years after the Act’s effective date at a reduced price of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg.
• Identification of Households: States/UTs are in charge of identifying eligible households in accordance with the TDPS set for each State.
• Nutritional Support for Women and Children: As part of the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programmes, pregnant women and nursing mothers are entitled to meals that meet the required nutritional standards. Children between the ages of 6 months and 14 are also eligible. Children under the age of six who are malnourished have been advised to follow higher nutritional criteria.
• Maternity Benefit: Women will now earn a maternity benefit of Rs. 6,000 if they are expecting a child or are breastfeeding a baby.
• Women’s Empowerment: In order for ration cards to be provided, the head of the household must be the oldest woman who is at least 18 years old.
• Grievance Redressal Mechanisms are available at the district and state levels.
• Costs associated with handling, fair price shop (FPS) dealers’ margin, and transportation: the price paid by the state for handling and transporting food within the state, as well as the FPS Dealers’ Margin in line with criteria that will be created for this purpose. The Central Government will help the states pay the aforementioned expense.
• Openness and Accountability: In order to ensure transparency and accountability, provisions have been made for the release of PDS records, social audits, and the creation of Vigilance Committees.
• Food Security Stipend: If qualified recipients are not given food items or meals, a food security stipend is given.
• Penalty: In accordance with the provision, if a public official or authority disregards the remedies recommended by the district grievance redress officer, the State Food Commission will impose a punishment.

The National Food Security Act’s goals are as follows:

• In the context of the human life cycle, this Act provides provisions for the security of nutrition and food.
• It ensures that people can enjoy respectable lifestyles and have access to a sufficient amount of healthful food at reasonable prices, as well as products related to or incidental to that.

The National Food Security Act’s applicability:

• It is helpful for the agricultural sector.
• It also assists in curbing food price increases.
• As agriculture is a labor-intensive business, its expansion would result in more employment being created.
• In doing so, poverty would decline and the economy would thrive.
• If there was access to wholesome food, the general health of the population would improve.
• Food security is equally important for the stability and security of the nation on a global scale.
• The right to food is not directly mentioned in the Indian Constitution.
• The fundamental right to life guaranteed by Article 21 was previously interpreted to include the right to a dignified existence, which might include the right to food and other necessities of life.

The National Food Security Act’s effects:

• The NFSA, authorised in 2013, permits the delivery of subsidised foodgrains through ration shops to up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, according to the Census 2011, which counted 81.35 crore people.
• The National Family Security Act (NFSA), which has a target coverage of 81.35 crore people nationally, is currently in force in all states and union territories.
• 25,26 LMT (Lakh Metric Tonnes) of food grains were distributed to NFSA recipients in January 2022, totaling close to 79 crore.

The National Food Security Act has drawn criticism:

• The Act largely addresses how to eradicate hunger, but it makes no mention of the detrimental impacts of undernutrition or how to do so.
• Malnutrition is India’s worst problem, and it cannot be fixed by merely implementing a public distribution system. The distribution also makes sure that essential supplies for hygiene, healthcare, and water are available.
• The right to food and the right to nourishment should both be included in the Act.
• Anganwadis have not yet helped many communities, and their reach is occasionally insufficient. Without sufficient funding, it is difficult to see how the benefits of the Act might be realised.
• The Farmer’s Union opposed the Act as well, claiming that it would nationalise farming by requiring the government to buy, sell, and hoard the majority of agricultural produce.
• Additionally, it would reduce the assistance given to marginal and small farmers as well as their negotiating power.
• The Act also authorises participation in the supply chain by private entities, enabling profitable and dishonest business practises. Another obstacle to the Act’s efficient operation is the Public Distribution System’s leakage and fraudulent supply-chain practises.
• The Act states that access to the right to food is not permitted in times of war or natural disaster. The right to food shall not be granted to states that are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters when it is most needed.
• The targeted aims of this Act will take longer to complete due to the Act’s gradual implementation.

The National Food Security Act has been amended:

• An modification to the Food Security (Assistance to State Government) Rules, 2015, has been notified in order to improve transparency, reduce leakages at ration shops during the weighing of foodgrains for beneficiaries, and encourage ePoS integration with electronic weighing equipment.
• The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, beneficiaries will now be guaranteed to get the appropriate amount of subsidised foodgrains in accordance with their entitlement, according to an amendment that was recently issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution.
• Additionally, it encourages states to improve the operational effectiveness of ePoS and offer savings while rewarding states who have been successfully implementing ePoS.
• The amendment indicates that if states operate their ePoS devices wisely and are able to generate savings from the increased margin of Rs 17 per quintal, they may now use their savings to purchase, operate, and maintain electronic weighing scales and integrate them with point-of-sale devices.

Conclusion:

• Despite being a huge start in the right direction, the National Food Security Act of 2013 shouldn’t be the sole measure adopted to address the nation’s food insecurity and hunger. It requires restructuring and the incorporation of new innovations in a number of areas in order to achieve its goal. The Center will collaborate with the states to successfully execute the Act in order to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal of achieving Zero Hunger by 2030.