National food Security Act 2013- Significance, Objectives

Table of Contents

Full Form of NFSA

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is a significant legislation enacted by the Government of India in 2013 with the aim of ensuring food security and reducing hunger and malnutrition across the country. The NFSA recognizes access to adequate food as a fundamental right and establishes mechanisms to guarantee affordable and nutritious food to the marginalized and economically weaker sections of society.

It introduces reforms in the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) to improve efficiency and transparency in the distribution of food grains. The Act provides specific entitlements to priority households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, and it places special emphasis on nutritional support for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children. The NFSA plays a crucial role in addressing the issue of food insecurity in India and striving for the overall well-being and development of the nation.

What is National Food Security Act 2013?

The National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA), also known as the Right to Food Act, is an act of the Parliament of India that aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country’s 1.4 billion people. It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013. The Act covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population and entitles them to receive highly subsidized food grains.

The Act also provides for a grievance redressal mechanism and sets up a National Food Security Commission to oversee its implementation. The NFSA has been hailed as a landmark piece of legislation that will help to reduce hunger and malnutrition in India. However, it has also been criticized for its implementation, with some states failing to reach the targetted beneficiaries. Here are some of the key features of the NFSA:

It provides subsidized food grains to two-thirds of the country’s population.
It covers both rural and urban areas.
It provides for two categories of beneficiaries: AAY households and PHH.
It sets up a grievance redressal mechanism.
It establishes a National Food Security Commission.

The NFSA is a significant step towards ensuring food security for all Indians. However, its full impact will only be realized when it is implemented effectively in all states.

Significance of National Food Security Act 2013

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 is a landmark legislation enacted by the Government of India with the aim of ensuring food security and reducing hunger and malnutrition across the country. The Act holds great significance in addressing the issue of food insecurity and its associated consequences in India. Let’s delve into the key aspects and significance of the National Food Security Act 2013:

Right to Food: The NFSA recognizes access to adequate food as a fundamental right of every citizen. It enshrines the right to receive food grains at affordable prices for the marginalized and economically weaker sections of society. This provision ensures that the most vulnerable populations have a legal entitlement to food and helps in safeguarding their basic nutritional needs.
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): The Act strengthens the TPDS, which is a crucial component of India’s food distribution mechanism. It focuses on the effective identification and targeting of beneficiaries to ensure that subsidized food grains reach the intended beneficiaries. The Act introduces reforms such as the use of Aadhaar-based identification, transparent grievance redressal mechanisms, and the provision of quality food grains to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the TPDS.
Coverage and Entitlements: The NFSA extends coverage to a larger section of the population compared to previous schemes. It provides specific entitlements to priority households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households. Priority households are entitled to receive 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices, while AAY households receive 35 kilograms of food grains per household per month.
Nutritional Support to Pregnant Women and Children: The Act recognizes the special nutritional needs of pregnant women and lactating mothers, as well as children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years. It guarantees free meals to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and for six months after childbirth. Additionally, it mandates the provision of nutritious meals, including mid-day meals and take-home rations, to children in schools and Anganwadi centers.
Social Safety Nets: The NFSA incorporates provisions to address the needs of vulnerable groups during times of food insecurity and emergencies. It mandates the provision of meals to destitute persons and ensures the availability of food grains during natural calamities, disasters, or any other unforeseen situations.
Women Empowerment: The Act recognizes the role of women as the head of households for the purpose of issuing ration cards. This empowers women and ensures that they have direct access to food entitlements, enhancing their agency and decision-making power within their families.
Transparency and Accountability: The NFSA emphasizes transparency and accountability in the implementation of food security programs. It establishes state-level grievance redressal mechanisms and requires the regular disclosure of information related to the TPDS and other schemes. This promotes greater accountability and helps in reducing corruption and leakages in the system.

The National Food Security Act 2013 is a comprehensive legislation that seeks to address the issues of hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity in India. By recognizing the right to food, expanding the coverage and entitlements, focusing on targeted distribution, and emphasizing transparency and accountability, the Act plays a pivotal role in ensuring that every citizen has access to adequate and nutritious food. It acts as a social safety net, promotes women’s empowerment, and contributes to the overall well-being and development of the nation.

Objectives of the National Food Security Act

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 has several key objectives aimed at addressing food insecurity and improving nutrition in India. The primary objectives of the NFSA include ensuring food security for all citizens, reducing hunger and malnutrition, and guaranteeing the right to food as a fundamental right. The Act aims to establish a targeted public distribution system (TPDS) that efficiently identifies and reaches the intended beneficiaries. It seeks to provide subsidized food grains to priority households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households.

Additionally, the Act focuses on providing nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children through free meals, mid-day meals, and take-home rations. Another objective of the NFSA is to strengthen social safety nets by ensuring the availability of food during emergencies and natural calamities. Moreover, the Act emphasizes transparency, accountability, and grievance redressal mechanisms to prevent corruption and improve the implementation of food security programs. Overall, the objectives of the NFSA revolve around safeguarding the right to food, improving access to nutritious food, and addressing the socio-economic aspects of hunger and malnutrition.

Salient Features of the National Food Security Act 2013

Here are the salient features of the National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA):

Coverage: The NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, which is about 813.5 million people.
Entitlements: Beneficiaries are entitled to receive highly subsidized foodgrains under two categories:

Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households: These are the poorest of the poor households, and are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.
Priority Households (PHH): These are households that are not as poor as AAY households, but are still below the poverty line. They are entitled to 5 kg of food grains per person per month.

Prices: The NFSA sets subsidized prices for food grains, which are much lower than the market prices. For example, the subsidized price for rice is Rs. 3 per kg, wheat is Rs. 2 per kg, and coarse grains are Rs. 1 per kg.
Implementation: The NFSA is implemented by the states and union territories. The states are responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries, distributing food grains, and setting up grievance redressal mechanisms.
Grievance redressal: The NFSA sets up a grievance redressal mechanism to ensure that beneficiaries are not denied their entitlements. Beneficiaries can file complaints with the state or union territory government, or with the National Food Security Commission.
National Food Security Commission: The NFSA establishes a National Food Security Commission to oversee the implementation of the Act and make recommendations for improvement.

The NFSA is a landmark piece of legislation that has the potential to significantly reduce hunger and malnutrition in India. However, its full impact will only be realized when it is implemented effectively in all states

Provisions of the National Food Security Act 2013

The National Food Security Act 2013 focuses on ensuring affordable access to nutritious food for all individuals. Its main objective is to achieve food security in the country. The following provisions of the NFSA highlight its key components:

Comprehensive Coverage under TPDS: The Act aims to provide comprehensive coverage to the population through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
Maternity Benefits: The NFSA intends to provide maternity benefits of Rs 60,000 to all lactating mothers and pregnant women.
Head of Household: As per the NFSA, the ration card should be issued in the name of the eldest woman above 18 years of age, who is the head of the household.
Village Committees: The Act establishes Village Committees to monitor progress, and activities, and ensure transparency in the implementation of food security measures.
Food Security Allowance: If the entitled food supplies are not provided, individuals are entitled to a “food security allowance” as compensation.

These provisions collectively aim to ensure that every individual has access to adequate and affordable nutritious food, especially focusing on vulnerable groups such as lactating mothers, pregnant women, and the poorest households. The Act also emphasizes transparency, accountability, and local participation through the establishment of Village Committees, promoting effective implementation of food security measures.

Obligations of NFSA 2013

Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), different levels of government have specific responsibilities:

Central Government: The central government maintains storage facilities and transports food grains from the central pool to the states. It also ensures the proper allocation of food grains based on household requirements.
State Government: The state government is responsible for effectively implementing food security schemes within their respective states. They store the transported food grains in appropriate storage spaces.
Local Authorities: Local authorities play a crucial role in executing the schemes at the grassroots level. Their primary responsibility is to ensure the proper implementation of the NFSA to achieve its objectives.

These government entities work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the NFSA and the fulfillment of its obligations in terms of storage, allocation, implementation, and reaching the intended beneficiaries.

Beneficiaries Under NFSA

The National Food Security Act aims to cater to the needs of two specific categories of beneficiaries, encompassing around two-thirds of the total population. These beneficiary categories have been identified to align with the objectives of the NFSA. The two groups of beneficiaries are as follows:

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Households

AAY households under the National Food Security Act include widows, disabled individuals, and those aged 60 or above without a guaranteed livelihood or support from their extended family or society.
AAY households typically fall within the poverty category.
The Act recognizes the specific needs of women and children and provides support to ensure their food security and nutritional well-being.

Priority Households (PHHs)

The NFSA allows eligible households, referred to as PHHs, to obtain subsidized food grains.
PHHs include a substantial number of priority sector ration card holders.
The primary aim of the NFSA is to combat poverty through affordable food provisions.
States have the duty to identify eligible households and define the extent of TPDS coverage applicable to each state.