National Food Security Act 2013 in Assamese. DOWNLOAD HERE
Food security means ensuring that all people, all individuals, receive the food they need for a healthy life. Although there is no clear description of the right to food in the Indian Constitution, Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right to live with dignity by granting the fundamental right to life, including the issue of the right to food and other basic necessities.
Yet while the government has been working for a long time through the public distribution system for the food security of the citizens. the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 July 5 is an example of that.
The Act entitles 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Public Distribution System. About two-thirds of the total population has been included in the subsidized foodgrain process through this scheme.
On the other hand, as a step towards women’s empowerment, ration cards have been issued under the Act identifying women aged 18 years and above as heads of households.
The Act has been implemented in all states and UTs and on an all-India basis. Out of the highest 81.34 crore people, about 80 crore people are currently covered under NFSA for providing subsidized food grains. Beneficiary identification by states and UTs is an ongoing process.
One of the directive principles of the act is its life-cycle system. Where special arrangements have been made for pregnant and lactating women as well as children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years, they have been provided nutritious food free of cost through an extensive network of ICDS centers as well as provision of food supply to schools under the mid-day meal scheme.
High nutritional norms have been laid down for malnourished children up to the age of 6 years. A cash maternity grant of Rs. 6,000 has been provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers to partially compensate for wage savings during pregnancy as nutritional supplements.
Liabilities of the National Food Security Act 2013
The NFSA fixes the joint responsibilities of the Central, State, and Union Territory Governments. However, the Central Government is responsible for providing assistance in the allocation of necessary foodgrains to the areas, transportation, distribution, etc. State and UT governments are responsible for the effective implementation of the Act. E.g., identification of eligible families, issuing ration cards to them, distributing food grains to eligible families through fair price shops, issuing licenses to fair price shop dealers, setting up their monitoring, and grievance redressal mechanism.
Coverage Area of National Food Security Act 2013
NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. The families under it get 35 kg of food grains per month, with a provision of 5 kg of food per person per month. This was determined using household consumption survey data for the year 2011-12.
Section 10 of the Act states that out of the number of persons earmarked for coverage under TPDS, the State Government shall identify the families for the scheme. And the rest of the families will have to be covered under TPDS as a priority family.
Price issued by the center under National Food Security Act 2013
To make it available at subsidized prices of Rs.3/2/1 respectively for rice, wheat, and coarse cereals for an initial period of three years from the date of commencement of the FoodGrains Act under NFSA.
Later the central government can make arrangements to fix the prices from time to time but will not be able to exceed the MSP. The Government has from time to time decided to continue the above-subsidized prices under NFSA and their validity has last been extended till June 2019.
Direct benefit transfer National Food Security Act 2013
The National Food Security Act provides guidance for reforms in TPDS including schemes like cash transfers for providing food rights. In order to implement this provision under Section 12 of the NFSA for cash transfer, the government issued the ‘Nagadha Dhan Allocation Scheme in August 2015 for Food Assistance’.
The objective of DBT is-
1. To reduce the need for large physical movement of food grains.
2. Giving more autonomy to the beneficiaries to choose the amount of their use.
3. Increasing dietary diversity.
4. Reduce leakage.
5. To facilitate better goals.
6. Promoting financial inclusion.
Direct cash transfers were started in Chandigarh and Puducherry from The month of September 2015 and at Dadra and Nagar Haveli in March 2016.
In these Union Territories, By implementing the cash transfer scheme, arrangements have been made to transfer the cash equivalent of subsidy directly to the bank accounts of eligible families, so that they can purchase food grains from the open market.
The scheme facilitates the implementation of this cash transfer policy in areas not covered under the existing system of distribution of food grains through the Public Distribution System.
Power of the Central Government to frame rules under NFSA 2013
Under Section 39(1) of the NFSA, the Central Government may, in consultation with the State Government and by notification, frame rules for the execution of the provisions of the Act. The following rules may be issued by the Central Government-
- Provision of funds to state governments for the supply of food grains.
- Food Safety Allowance Rules, 2015.
- Assistance in State Government Regulations 2015.
- Cash Transfer for Food Security, 2015
- WCD and HRD Notification
Section 40 of the National Food Security Act states that the State Government may frame rules for the execution of the provisions of this Act in conformity with the rules framed by the Central Government by notification.
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FAQ-
What is NFSA?
The National Food Security act was implemented by the Government of India to ensure quality food to the people of India and to provide subsidized food to the people of India who are eligible for this scheme.
What are the Liabilities of the National Food Security Act 2013?
The NFSA fixes the joint responsibilities of the Central, State, and Union Territory Governments. However, the Central Government is responsible for providing assistance in the allocation of necessary foodgrains to the areas, transportation, distribution, etc. State and UT governments are responsible for the effective implementation of the Act. E.g., identification of eligible families, issuing ration cards to them, distributing food grains to eligible families through fair price shops, issuing licenses to fair price shop dealers, and setting up their monitoring, and grievance redressal mechanism.
What is the price issued by the center under National Food Security Act 2013?
To make it available at subsidized prices of Rs.3/2/1 respectively for rice, wheat, and coarse cereals for an initial period of three years from the date of commencement of the FoodGrains Act under NFSA. Later the central government can make arrangements to fix the prices from time to time but will not be able to exceed the MSP. The Government has from time to time decided to continue the above-subsidized prices under NFSA and their validity has last been extended till June 2019.