Introduction
Food security is one of the most critical aspects of national development, ensuring that every individual has access to sufficient, nutritious, and affordable food. In a country like India, where hunger and malnutrition have historically been major challenges, the government has implemented various schemes to strengthen food security.
To institutionalize the right to food, the Government of India enacted the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. This landmark legislation aims to provide legal entitlement to subsidized food grains for a large section of India’s population, covering over 81 crore beneficiaries through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
History and Background of NFSA
The concept of food security in India evolved over several decades, with various schemes and policies aimed at ensuring food availability for the poor.
Key Milestones in India’s Food Security Policy
| Year | Policy/Program | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1947-1950 | Rationing System Introduced | First effort to provide subsidized food grains |
| 1960s | Green Revolution | Increased agricultural production, making India self-sufficient |
| 1975 | Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) | Introduced supplementary nutrition for children & mothers |
| 1995 | Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM) | Launched to provide school children with free meals |
| 1997 | Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) | Introduced to target the most vulnerable sections |
| 2013 | National Food Security Act (NFSA) | Gave legal backing to food security |
The NFSA is a game-changer because it shifts food security from a welfare-based approach to a rights-based framework.
Objectives of the National Food Security Act
The NFSA is designed to achieve multiple objectives, including:
1. Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition
- Provides legal entitlement to subsidized food grains.
- Ensures availability of nutritious food to combat malnutrition.
2. Strengthening the Public Distribution System (PDS)
- Reduces leakages and corruption in food distribution.
- Implements Aadhaar-based authentication to prevent fraud.
3. Ensuring Affordable Access to Food
- Provides 5 kg of food grains per person per month at highly subsidized rates.
- Makes food affordable for the poor and vulnerable groups.
4. Supporting Farmers & Agricultural Stability
- Ensures government procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- Helps in price stabilization of essential food grains.
5. Women & Child Welfare
- Prioritizes nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.
- Empowers women by making the eldest female the head of the household in ration cards.
6. Establishing a Legal Framework for Food Security
- Food security becomes a right rather than a welfare measure.
- Establishes a grievance redressal mechanism to ensure accountability.
Eligibility & Beneficiaries Under NFSA
The NFSA covers 67% of India’s population, with specific provisions for priority households and the poorest of the poor (Antyodaya Anna Yojana – AAY).
1. Priority Households (PHH)
- Covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
- Food Entitlement: 5 kg per person per month.
- Subsidized rates:
- Rice – ₹3 per kg
- Wheat – ₹2 per kg
- Coarse Grains – ₹1 per kg
2. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Households
- Covers poorest of the poor families.
- Food Entitlement: 35 kg per household per month.
- Same subsidized rates as PHH.
The identification of eligible households is done by state governments based on SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census) data.
Key Features of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
The NFSA aims to make food security a legal right for eligible beneficiaries and ensures access to affordable, nutritious, and sufficient food through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes.
Major Features of NFSA
- Legal entitlement to subsidized food for approximately 81 crore people.
- Coverage:
- 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
- Food grain entitlement:
- 5 kg per person per month at subsidized rates.
- 35 kg per month for the poorest households (AAY beneficiaries).
- Subsidized rates under NFSA:
- Rice – ₹3/kg
- Wheat – ₹2/kg
- Coarse grains – ₹1/kg
- Implementation through Fair Price Shops (FPS) under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Women empowerment:- The eldest woman in a household (18+ years) is considered the head of the family for ration card purposes.
- Special provisions for pregnant and lactating women:
- ₹6,000 maternity benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).
- Nutritional support through Mid-Day Meals (MDM) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
Grievance redressal mechanism to handle complaints.
Key Schemes Under NFSA
1. Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
- Fair Price Shops (Ration Shops) distribute food grains.
- Aadhaar-enabled PDS (AePDS) reduces leakages.
2. Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM)
- Provides free hot meals to school children (6-14 years).
- Aims to improve school attendance and nutrition.
3. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
- Take-home rations & supplementary nutrition for children under 6 years.
- Focuses on maternal and child health.
4. Maternity Benefits Scheme (PMMVY)
- ₹6,000 cash assistance for pregnant and lactating mothers.
- Ensures proper nutrition for mothers and newborns.
Implementation & Distribution Mechanism
The NFSA is implemented through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state governments.
1. Procurement & Storage
- Food grains procured at MSP by FCI.
- Stored in government godowns.
2. Allocation to States
- Central government allocates food grains based on population data.
3. Distribution to Beneficiaries
- Ration cards used at Fair Price Shops (FPS).
- Biometric authentication (Aadhaar-linked PDS) improves transparency.
Impact of NFSA on India’s Food Security
Positive Outcomes:
Reduced hunger & malnutrition among poor households.
Improved school attendance due to the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Supported farmers through stable procurement at MSP.
Empowered women by recognizing them as heads of households in ration cards.
Beneficiaries & Eligibility Criteria Under NFSA
The NFSA covers 67% of India’s population, with two major categories of beneficiaries:
1. Priority Households (PHH)
- Coverage:
- 75% of rural & 50% of urban population.
- Entitlement:
- 5 kg of food grains per person per month.
- Eligibility based on:
- Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
2. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Households
- Coverage:
- Poorest families (e.g., landless laborers, homeless, widows, disabled individuals).
- Entitlement:
- 35 kg of food grains per household per month.
- Special focus:
- Destitute, tribal populations, and urban poor.
Challenges & Limitations:
- PDS Leakages & Corruption –
- Some food grains are diverted to the black market.
- Storage Issues –
- Poor warehousing leads to food grain wastage.
- Exclusion Errors –
- Some deserving households are left out.
- Limited Nutritional Diversity –
- Focuses on calories, not protein & micronutrients.
Way Forward
1. Strengthening PDS Infrastructure
GPS tracking of food grains to prevent diversion.
Digitization of ration cards for transparency.
2. Expanding Nutritional Coverage
- Include pulses, oil, and fortified foods in rations.
- Ensure iron and vitamin-enriched food grains.
3. Enhancing Awareness & Outreach
- Increase awareness about NFSA entitlements.
- Ensure last-mile delivery for rural and tribal populations.
Conclusion
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is one of India’s most significant welfare programs, ensuring that no citizen goes hungry. By providing legal backing to food security, NFSA has made affordable food accessible to millions of poor households.
However, to maximize its benefits, India needs to strengthen the PDS system, enhance food diversity, and ensure better governance in implementation. With the right reforms, NFSA can make India a hunger-free and nutritionally secure nation.
