National Food Security Act

The policy is addressing food security, accessibility and affordability. The National Food Security Act 2013, also known as Right to Food Act, aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of the country's 1.4 billion people. Under the provisions of the Act, beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (or, PDS) are entitled to 5 kilograms per person per month of cereals at a heavily subsidized price. The Act also includes separate schemes such as the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDM), the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) and maternity entitlements. Through the ICDS and MDM, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children are eligible for daily free meals in government schools and anganwadi centres.

India has had one of the lowest per capita supply of calories according to the OECD. While being a net exporter of foodgrains for more than a decade the country has suffered from high rates of child malnutrition and the largest number of hungry people in the world, almost double the level of many African countries. The National Food Security Act is seen as a first step to tackle this problem.

The Act is a joint responsibility between the Centre and State Governments. The Centre is responsible for the allocation, transportation and central assistance of the foodgrains, while the States are responsible for the effective implementation of the Act which includes identifying eligible households, issuing ration cards, distributing to the households through shops and licensing shops.

Role of NFSA in eliminating hunger and malnutrition: 1. According to a UN report number of undernourished people in India has declined by 60 million between 2006 to 2019. 2. Improved access to food grains have improved the hunger outcomes amongst the poor and underprivileged. 3. Wide coverage of the 2/3rd population have increased resilience in the poor against income shocks. 4. Stunting in children under 5 years of age, according to the UN report have decreased from 47.8% in 2012 to 34.7% in 2019. 5. Monetary compensation has compensated against wage loss during pregnancy. PWLM can now access to healthier food options like fruits, vegetables etc. 6. The awareness generated by the Asha workers have increased the number of infants who were exclusively breastfed from 11.2 million in 2012 to 13.9 million in 2019. Source: https://forumias.com/blog/answered-what-are-the-salient-features-of-the-national-food-security-act-2013-how-has-the-food-security-bill-helped-in-eliminating-hunger-and-malnutrition-in-india/

https://dfpd.gov.in/