Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, a landmark legislation, represents a significant step towards realizing the right to food for a substantial section of the Indian population. Enacted during the UPA-II government, it aims to provide access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people living with food insecurity. Building upon earlier schemes like the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the NFSA legalizes existing food security initiatives and expands their scope, aiming to enhance food security and nutritional levels, particularly among the most vulnerable.
Key Features of the National Food Security Act 2013
The NFSA 2013 encompasses several crucial features, impacting food distribution and access across the nation.
1. Coverage
- Prioritization of Beneficiaries: The Act categorizes beneficiaries into two groups: Priority Households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households.
- AAY Households: The poorest of the poor, constituting approximately 5% of the population, are covered under the AAY scheme, receiving 35 kg of food grains per family per month.
- Priority Households: These households, identified based on socio-economic criteria, constitute the remaining eligible population and receive 5 kg of food grains per person per month.
- Overall Coverage: The NFSA aims to cover approximately 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
2. Entitlement
- Food Grain Entitlement: Eligible households are entitled to receive subsidized food grains – rice, wheat, and coarse grains – at prices significantly lower than market rates.
- Subsidized Prices: As of 2023 (knowledge cutoff), rice is provided at ₹3 per kg, wheat at ₹2 per kg, and coarse grains at ₹1 per kg for Priority Households. AAY families receive these grains at even lower rates.
- Nutritional Support: The Act also provides for nutritional support to pregnant and lactating mothers, and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years. This includes a maternity benefit of at least ₹6,000.
3. Reforms and Delivery Mechanisms
- TPDS Reforms: The NFSA mandates reforms in the TPDS, including the use of technology (Aadhaar-enabled biometric authentication, online monitoring) to improve efficiency and reduce leakages.
- Decentralized Procurement: The Act encourages decentralized procurement of food grains, allowing states to procure directly from farmers and distribute through their own systems.
- Community Participation: It emphasizes community participation in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the food security programs.
- Grievance Redressal Mechanism: The Act provides for a robust grievance redressal mechanism to address complaints related to the distribution of food grains.
- Food Security Allowances: In case of non-availability of food grains, the Act provides for food security allowances to eligible households.
4. Challenges
Despite its progressive features, the NFSA faces challenges such as identification of beneficiaries, ensuring effective delivery, maintaining food grain quality, and addressing logistical bottlenecks. Implementation varies significantly across states, leading to disparities in coverage and effectiveness.
Conclusion
The National Food Security Act 2013 represents a significant commitment to addressing food insecurity in India. While the Act has expanded access to subsidized food grains for a large segment of the population, its success hinges on effective implementation, robust monitoring, and continuous reforms to address existing challenges. Strengthening the TPDS, leveraging technology, and ensuring community participation are crucial for realizing the full potential of the NFSA and achieving the goal of a food-secure nation.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.