Context:
Expansion of the distribution of food grains mandated by National Food Security Act of 2013 prevented stunting of about 1.8 million children in eight states, according to a paper in American Economic Association’s journal on applied economics.
National Food Security Act of 2013
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 is a law that aims to provide subsidized food and nutritional security to the citizens of India.
- Notified on 10th September, 2013.
- Objective:
- Providing for food and nutritional security for the human life cycle.
- Coverage:
- 75% of rural population and up to 50% of urban population for subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
- Eligibility:
- Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, and households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
- The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is a Government of India scheme that provides highly subsidized food to the poorest families in India
- Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, and households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
- Provisions:
- 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
- Meal and maternity benefit:
- Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after child birth.
- Food security
- Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
- Grievance redressal mechanisms
- Grievance redressal mechanisms set up at the district and state level.
- Existing beneficiaries:
- 2.37 crore households or 9.01 crore persons, with 70.35 crore persons under priority households.
- Suggestion:
- Assuming the rural-urban coverage ratio remains the same, the overall numbers covered will be increased from 81.35 crore to 89.52 crore, increasing the subsidy required by Rs. 14,800 crore.
- Issues:
- Covid-19 may double the problem of unemployment and food insecurity to the poor.
