Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, represents a landmark legislation in India’s efforts to combat hunger and food insecurity. Rooted in the Directive Principles of State Policy (Article 39), it legally entitles approximately two-thirds of the population to a subsidized food grain supply. Prior to the NFSA, food security was largely addressed through various schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS), but these lacked legal backing and universal coverage. The NFSA aimed to provide a more comprehensive and rights-based approach to food security, ensuring access to adequate food for a life with dignity.
Salient Features of the National Food Security Act, 2013
The NFSA, 2013, encompasses several key features:
- Coverage: It covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, identifying beneficiaries through state-specific criteria.
- Entitlement: Eligible households are entitled to 5 kg of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices: ₹3/kg for rice, ₹2/kg for wheat, and ₹1/kg for coarse grains.
- 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.
- Maternity Benefits: Pregnant and lactating mothers are entitled to a maternity benefit of at least ₹6,000.
- Food Security Allowances: In case of non-supply of entitled food grains, beneficiaries are entitled to food security allowances.
- Grievance Redressal Mechanism: The Act mandates the establishment of grievance redressal mechanisms at the district, state, and national levels.
- Streamlining PDS: It aims to improve the efficiency and transparency of the Public Distribution System (PDS) through measures like digitization and direct benefit transfer (DBT).
Impact on Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition
The NFSA has had a mixed impact on eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India.
Positive Impacts
- Increased Food Access: The Act has demonstrably increased access to food grains for a large segment of the population, particularly the poor and vulnerable.
- Improved Nutritional Indicators: Studies suggest a modest improvement in nutritional indicators, such as reduced stunting and wasting rates, particularly among children, although attributing this solely to the NFSA is difficult.
- Enhanced Food Security during Crises: The NFSA proved crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a safety net for millions of people who lost their livelihoods. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana’ (PM-GKAY) built upon the NFSA framework to provide additional food grains.
Limitations and Challenges
- Exclusion Errors: Despite aiming for universal coverage, exclusion errors persist, leaving many eligible beneficiaries without access to subsidized food grains. This is often due to flawed identification processes and lack of awareness.
- Leakages and Diversion: Leakages and diversion of food grains remain a significant problem, particularly in some states, reducing the effectiveness of the Act.
- Quality Concerns: Concerns regarding the quality of food grains distributed through the PDS have been raised, impacting nutritional outcomes.
- Inflationary Pressures: Subsidized food grain prices can sometimes distort market prices and create inflationary pressures.
- Storage and Transportation Issues: Inadequate storage facilities and inefficient transportation networks lead to wastage and spoilage of food grains.
Data on Impact: According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, India ranked 111 out of 125 countries, indicating a serious level of hunger. While the NFSA has contributed to mitigating hunger, it hasn’t been sufficient to significantly improve India’s GHI score. The NFSA’s implementation has also faced challenges, with reports of grain wastage and inefficiencies in distribution. (Source: Global Hunger Index 2023)
| Indicator | Pre-NFSA (2011-12) | Post-NFSA (2019-21) |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of undernourished population | 21.9% | 16.3% |
| Percentage of stunted children (0-5 years) | 38.4% | 31.7% |
Conclusion
The National Food Security Act, 2013, is a significant step towards ensuring food security for millions of Indians. While it has demonstrably improved food access and provided a safety net during crises, challenges related to exclusion, leakages, quality, and infrastructure remain. Strengthening the PDS through digitization, improved targeting, and enhanced monitoring is crucial. Furthermore, a multi-pronged approach addressing malnutrition through improved sanitation, healthcare, and dietary diversification is essential to achieve the goal of a hunger-free India.
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.