The document provides an overview of the National Food Security Act 2013 in India. Some key points: - The Act aims to provide food and nutritional security to people across their lifecycle by ensuring access to adequate food at affordable prices. - It entitles priority households to 5kg of foodgrains per person per month and Antyodaya households to 35kg per month. In total, about 67% of the rural and 50% of the urban population are covered. - Children aged 6 months to 6 years are entitled to an age-appropriate meal through anganwadis. Children aged 6-14 years are entitled to a free midday meal in schools. - Pregnant and

1. 1

2. Presented by:
N. Lohith
BAM-12- 38
Course-in-charge:
Dr. D. Vishnu Sankar Rao
Professor and University Head
Major Advisor :
Dr. Y. Radha
Principal Scientist,
WTC, ANGRAU, Hyderabad
NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT
2013: OPPORTUNITIES AND
CHALLENGES

3. contents
1. Introduction to Food Security
2. Need for NFSA
3. Back ground of FSA
4. Salient features of NFSA
5. Food grains required for FSA
6. Cost of NFSA implementation
7. Food security programs in different states
8. Chattisgarh FSA Vs National FSA
9. Consequences of Food Security Act
10. Criticism of NFSA
11. Suggestions
12. Conclusion 3

4. • Human concern for food security is as old as humanity
itself
• The issue of food security became an international concern
when world food conference in Rome (1974) adopted food
security as its main topic
• Declaration of this conference was that “every man, woman
and child has the inalienable right to be free from hunger
and malnutrition in order to develop fully and maintain
their physical and mental faculties”
4

5. DEFINITION OF FOOD SECURITY
FAO DEFINITION (1983):
―All people at all times have both physical and economic access
to basic food they need”
WORLD BANK DEFINITION (1986):
“Access by all people at all times to enough food for an active,
healthy life. Its essential elements are the availability of food
and the ability to acquire it”
5

6. Four dimensions of Food Security
Food
Security
Physical Availability of Food
The supply side, determined by the level
of food production, stock level & net trade.
Economic & Physical access to Food
Adequate supply of food does not guarantee household level food
security. Food access depends on incomes, expenditure, markets &
prices in achieving food security objectives
Food Utilization
The way the body makes the most of various nutrients in the food.
Involves care & feeding practices, food preparation, diversity of diet
& intra-household distribution of food.
Stability of the other 3 dimensions over time
Access on a periodic basis. Weather, political conditions or
economic factors have an impact on food security status.
6

7. Crop 2011-12 2012-13
Rice 105.31 104.22
Wheat 94.88 93.62
Coarse cereals 42.04 39.52
Total cereals 242.23 237.3618
Pulses 17.09 18.00
Total food grains 259.32 255.36
Oilseeds 29.79 30.72
Sugar 24.60 26.00
Vegetables 156.325 156.445
Fruits 76.42 79.40
Milk 127.9 133.7
Source:-RBI Hand Book on India Economy 2011-12
Physical Availability of Food (in million tonnes)
Table no.1
7

8. 1950-
51
1960-
61
1970-
71
1980-
81
1990-
91
2000-
01
2010-
11
2011-
12
2012-
13
Rice 20.58 34.58 42.22 53.63 74.29 84.98 95.32 105.31 104.22
Wheat 6.46 11.00 23.83 36.31 55.14 69.68 85.93 94.88 93.62
Coarse Cereals 15.38 23.74 30.55 29.02 32.70 31.08 43.68 42.04 39.5
Pulses 8.41 12.70 11.82 10.63 14.26 11.07 18.24 17.09 18
Food grain 50.83 82.02 108.42 129.59 176.39 196.81 244.78 259.32 255
20.58
34.58
42.22
53.63
74.29
84.98
95.32
105.31 104.22
11.00
23.83
36.31
55.14
69.68
85.93
94.88 93.62
50.83
82.02
108.42
129.59
176.39
196.81
244.78
259.32 255
-30.00
20.00
70.00
120.00
170.00
220.00
270.00
0.00
20.00
40.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
120.00
Production (million
tonnes)
Rice
Wheat
Coarse Cereals
Pulses
Food grain
Figure 1: Trend in Production of Food grains
Source: Hand book of Indian Economy, RBI, 2011-12. 8

9. Year Cereal Pulses
1950-51 44.3 8.0
1960-61 64.6 11.1
1970-71 84.0 10.3
1980-81 104.8 9.4
1990-91 145.7 12.9
2000-01 145.6 11.3
2005-06 157.4 12.7
2006-07 168.8 13.3
2007-08 168.9 14.7
2008-09 165.9 17.6
2009-10 173.7 15.8
2010-11 176.5 13.7
Source: Indian Economy,Gaurav Datt and Ashwani Mahajan,2012
Net Availability of Cereals and Pulses (in million tonnes)
Table no. 2
9

10. Commodity Per capita availability Minimum per
capita requirement
Total cereals 528.70 400
Pulses 46.78 80
Total food
grains
568.79 480
Oil 39.73 30
Sugar 54.79 20
Vegetables 348.47 300
Fruits 176.86 150
Milk 297.81 300
Source:-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
Per capita availability, 2012-13 (in gram per day)
Table no. 3
10

11. 11

12. • India ranked 10th largest Economy of world on nominal
GDP basis and 3rd largest economy on PPP basis
But India has…………..
• 29% of the 872.9 million undernourished people
(FAO 2009)
• 49% of the world’s underweight children (WHO 2009)
• 34% of the world’s stunted children (WHO 2009)
• 32.7% of all people in India fall below the international
poverty line of US$ 1.25 per day (PPP) while 68.7% live on
less than US$ 2 per day (World Bank 2010)
• According to the latest data on child under nutrition from 2005–
10, India ranked second to last on child underweight out of
129 countries— below Ethiopia, Niger, Nepal, and
Bangladesh. 12

13. Global Hunger Index
This index basically
measures malnutrition
and hunger based on
three parameters
 Proportion of people
who are undernourished
 Proportion of children
under five who are
underweight,
 The Child mortality rate.
13

14. Year Rank in Hunger
index
Out of total
no. of
countries
Score Status
1990 31.73 Alarming
2007 94 118 25.03. Alarming
2008 66 88 23.70 Alarming
2009 65 88 23.90 Alarming
2010 67 84 24.10 Alarming
2011 67 81 24.2 Alarming
2012 65 79 22.9 Alarming
Source:-Global Hunger Report, IFPRI
India’s status on Global Hunger Index
Table no. 4
14

15. Major states at hunger index and the underlying components
State Prevalence of calorie
undernourishment (%)
Under weight children
below 5 years (%)
Under 5 mortality rates
(deaths /100 Lives)
Indian state
hunger index rank
Punjab 11.1 24.6 5.2 1
Kerala 28.6 22.7 1.6 2
AP 19.6 32.7 6.3 3
Assam 14.6 36.4 8.5 4
Haryana 15.1 39.7 5.2 5
Tamilnadu 29.1 30 3.5 6
Rajasthan 14.0 40.4 8.5 7
West Bengal 18.5 38.5 5.9 8
UP 14.5 42.3 9.6 9
Maharashtra 27.0 36.7 4.7 10
Karnataka 28.1 37.6 5.5 11
Orissa 21.4 40.9 9.1 12
Gujarat 23.3 44.7 6.1 13
Chhattisgarh 23.3 47.6 9.0 14
Bihar 17.3 56.1 8.5 15
Jharkhand 19.6 57.1 9.3 16
MP 23.4 59.8 9.4 17
India 20.0 42.5 7.4
Table no. 5
Source:-Global Hunger Report, IFPRI 15

16. 16

17. Back ground of food security
movement….
17

18. • 1996- Supreme Court declared that the right to live guaranteed in
any civilized society implies the right to food.
• 2001- the Court ordered the implementation of eight centrally
sponsored schemes as legal entitlements. These include
Public Distribution System (PDS)
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
The Midday Meal Scheme (MMS)
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
• 2008 - the Court ordered that Below Poverty Line (BPL) families be
entitled to 35 kg of food grains per month at subsidized prices.
18

19. • Then the National Food Security Bill had a stop-
start journey. Here’s a timeline of its...
• Oct 2010 - the National Advisory Council (NAC) drafted a
National Food Security Bill, proposing legal entitlements for
about 75 percent of the population.
• Jan 2011 - an Expert Committee set up by the Prime
Minister under the chairmanship of Dr. C. Rangarajan
examined the Bill and made several recommendations,
including reducing the proportion of the population entitled to
benefits and computerizing PDS.
19

20. • July 2011- A ministerial panel gave its approval to draft food
security Bill
• Jan 2012- The Bill was referred to the Parliament Standing
Committee on Food
• Nov 2012- A parliamentary panel sends the draft back to the food
ministry to incorporate changes after consulting with state
governments.
• 19 Mar 2013- Union Cabinet approves an amended draft
• 4 June 2013- The Cabinet discussed on approving the food security
law through an ordinance.
• 4 July 2013 - Cabinet approved the food aid program as
an ordinance.
20

21. • 26 Aug 2013- the bill was passed in the LokSabha
• 2 Sept 2013- the bill was passed in the Rajyasabha
• 10 Sept 2013- received the assent of the President of
India.
With this the NFSB 2013
became the Act and gave
the majority of those living
in India the right to subsidised food
grains.
21

22. Salient features of
NFSA….
22

23. The National Food Security Act, 2013 aims to
provide for food and nutritional security in
human life cycle approach, by ensuring
access to adequate quantity of quality food at
affordable prices to people to live a life with
dignity.
23

24. Entitlements….
Public Distribution System:
Priority households are
entitled to 5 kgs of food
grains per person per month.
2.43 crore Antyodaya
households to get 35 kgs.
The combined coverage is up to 75% of the rural
population and up to 50% of the urban population.
The Bill will cover around 810 million citizens. (67%)
24

25. Children’s Entitlements….
children in the age group of 6 months to
6 years, the Bill guarantees an age-
appropriate meal, free of charge, through
the local anganwadi.
children aged 6-14 years, free
midday meal will be provided every
day in all schools run by local bodies,
government and govt aided schools, up
to Class VIII.
Children who suffer from
malnutrition will be identified through
the local anganwadi and meals will be
provided to them free of charge.
25

26. Maternal benefits of Rs 6,000, is
given in instalments (maternal
benefits to a pregnant woman
beyond two live births is denied) .
Every pregnant and lactating mother
is entitled to a free meal at the local
anganwadi (during pregnancy and
six months after childbirth).
Entitlements of Pregnant and Lactating
Women….
26

27. Identification of Eligible
Households….
The Central Government is to
determine the state-wise coverage
of the PDS, in terms of proportion
of the rural/urban population.
Then numbers of eligible persons will be
calculated from Census population figures.
The identification of eligible households is left
to state governments.
The lists of eligible households are to be
displayed publicly by state governments.
27

28. Food Commissions…
The act provides for the creation of State Food
Commissions
Each Commission shall consist of a chairperson, five
other members and a member-secretary (including
at least two women)
The main function of the State Commission is to
monitor and evaluate the implementation of the act,
give advice to the state governments and their
agencies, and inquire into violations of entitlements.
28

29. PDS Reforms….
 Doorstep delivery of foodgrains
 ICT applications and end-to-end
computerisation
 Using aadhaar (UID) for unique
identification of entitled beneficiaries
 Full transparency of records
 Preference to public institutions or bodies
in licensing of fair price shops.
29

30. For the purpose of issue of ration cards, the eldest
woman (above 18) shall be the head of the
household.
Women Empowerment….
30

31. Obligations of Government and
Local Authorities….
 Central Government : provide food grains (funds) to state
governments to implement the main entitlements. It also has to
provide assistance to state governments to meet local distribution
costs.
 State governments : implementing the relevant schemes, in
accordance with the guidelines issued by the Central Government.
They are free to extend benefits and entitlements beyond what is
prescribed in the Bill, from their own resources
 Local Authorities and Panchayati Raj Institutions are
responsible for proper implementation of the act in their
respective areas 31

32. Vs
FOOD GRAINS
CASH
TRANSFER/SMART
CARDS
32

33. Mechanism Advantages Disadvantages
PDS Insulates the beneficiaries
from inflation and price
volatility
Fair price shops have low
margins; thus not very
viable
The food grain entitlement
can only be used to prepare
food
Often sub-standard
quality of food grains,
Adulteration of food grain
Well-developed network of
FPS ensures access to food
grain even in remote
areas
Large leakages and
diversions of subsidized
food grain
33

34. Mechanism Advantages Disadvantages
Cash Transfer Cash in the hands of poor
expands their choices and
relieves financial constraints
to some extent
Requires extensive
banking network
Potential for fully electronic
transfer
Cash can be used to buy
non food items
Cash transfer programs
involve low administrative
costs because it does not
need procurement, storage
and distribution facilities
May expose recipients to
price volatility and
inflation
Smart Cards/
Food
Coupons
The household has freedom
to go to any PDS shop. It
might promote quality of
grains as well as service
Needs computerization
and
networking of PDS shops
34

35. Food Grains Required for the Food
Security Bill….
The (NFSB) require of about 61.2 mt of cereals
Item wheat rice total
Requirement for the Beneficiary population (67% of
1.215
Billion people @ 5 kg grain per person)
22.0 26.8 48.8
Additional requirement for AAY (@ 2 kg grain for 2.5
crore household assuming 5 persons per household)
1.4 1.6 3.0
Estimated requirement for OWS 2.9 3.6 6.5
Additional requirement for protecting the average
annual offtake of states
1.3 1.6 2.9
Total Annual Requirement 27.6 33.6 61.2
Monthly requirement (Annual Requirement / 12) 2.3 2.8 5.1
(in mt)
Table no. 6
35
Source: Ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution

36. •The annual food grain requirement for
implementing the National Food Security Act is
estimated at 61 million tonne.
•Out of this proposed 61 million tonnes of food
grains, our 82.4 crore of targeted people require
only 49.44 million tonnes and rest shall be for
other institutional arrangements.
36

37. Figure 2. Stock position of food grains in the Central
Pool vis-a-vis minimum buffer norms
Source : FCI
37

38. Figure 3. Procurement, allocation and off-take of food
grains (in LMT)
Source : FCI
38

39. Cost of NFSA implementation
39

40. The Food Bill will cost around Rs 1.3 lakh crore
annually which is about 1.1% of GDP.
About 62 million tonnes of food grain will be
needed under the food bill.
Even if the grain quantity remains fixed each year,
the subsidy cost will keep increasing annually.
40

41. 0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
Amount
(Rs. crores)
Year
Cost of Food Subsidy
Figure 4. Cost of food subsidy
41
Source : CACP

42.  The cost of the bill is likely to be Rs 1.25 – 1.30 lakh crore each year
 India is already spending Rs 1.16 lakh crore on schemes that are
listed as entitlements under the FSB.
food subsidy (Rs 85,000 crore),
midday meal scheme (Rs 13,215 crore),
Integrated Child Development Scheme (Rs 17,700 crore)
maternity entitlements (Rs 450 crore).
Thus, the additional expenditure is around Rs 8,635 crore, or say Rs
10,000 which is hardly significant in comparison with the GDP numbers.
 In reality, a much bigger amount is wasted annually by way of rotting
food grains stocked under FCI
Thus, it is wrong to say that the Food Bill will incur any extra
significant expenditure by the government. 42

43. Food Security Programs of different
states….
 Several Indian states have been running their own food security
programs.
 Tamil Nadu has perhaps the best run system in the country.
Most recently, Chhattisgarh has emerged as a model state in
terms of running the food program most efficiently.
 60 percent of the poverty gap has been wiped out in Tamil
Nadu; the figure for Chhattisgarh is 40 percent and nearly 20
percent at the all-India level.
43

44. Andhra Pradesh
first introduced a Rs 2-per-kg rice scheme in 1985
In 2011, the state government introduced good quality rice
under PDS at Rs 1 per kg for BPL families.
The scheme benefits 2.70 crore families.
 Antyodaya families get 35 kg per family, while other BPL
families get four kg per person subject to maximum of 20 kg
The state spends Rs 2,600 crore as subsidy for rice at Rs 1.
Some 3.24 lakh tonnes are provided.
44

45.  The government also subsidizes red gram dal at Rs 50 per kg,
palm oil at Rs 40 per litre, kerosene at Rs 15 per litre, sugar at
Rs 13.50 per kg, and wheat at Rs 7 per kg.
 "Amma Hastham" scheme was launched in 2013 under which
the government provides nine essential commodities — four
more than were being provided earlier — in a packet through
ration shops every month for Rs 185, against an actual cost of
Rs 292.
 It includes 1 kg toor dal, 1 litre palm oil, 1 kg whole meal atta, 1
kg wheat, ½ kg sugar, 1 kg salt, ¼ kg chilli powder, ½ kg
tamarind and 100 gm turmeric powder. 45

46. The Chhattisgarh Food Security Bill,
2012
Chhattisgarh became the first
state to have its own food security
Act
It is seen as a model for
other states in effectively
implementing food bill.
The bill covers around 42
lakh families.
46

47.  To prevent leakage and corruption
a) Computerization of records and publication of all
beneficiaries and benefits given to them.
b) Gram Panchayats will be allowed to run ration outlets.
c) Vigilance committees
d) Social audits by the
Gram Sabha, etc
 Panchayats and Municipalities will be responsible for
implementation of the Act.
 Entitlements will be given on the basis of per household
and not on per person.
47

48. Chhattisgarh food security
2012
National food security bill
2013
Food grain
entitlements
Antyodaya and
prority (per
households)
General
35 kg food grain at Rs 1 & 2/Kg
2 kg iodized salt
2 kg black gram at Rs 5/kg(tribal)
2 kg pulses at Rs 10/ kg(tribal)
15 kg food grain at RS 15/kg
5 kg per person per month
35 kg food grain per
household
No provision of noon food
grain item
Type of
entitelments
Only on household basis Antyodaya only on household
basis
All others on per person basis
Antyodaya Include vulnerable group Only poorest of poor
Destitutes and
homeless
Free meal No provision
PDS reform Use IT and SMS services Deliver to doorstep of PDS. No
IT services yet announced

49. 49

50.  Right to food become a legal right- The proposed bill
aims to provide legal right over subsidised foodgrain to
75 per cent in rural areas and 50 per cent in urban areas
 Food and nutritional security for people who don’t have
access to food at a subsidized rate.
 Subsidized food to pregnant women and children under
the age of 16.
 Food at very cheap rates of between one and three rupees
per kilogram to up to 70% of the population.
 Reduction in malnutrition
 Increase purchasing power of poor people as they can
spend money on other basic needs
50

51.  Continuance of Antyodaya Anna
Yojana (AAY) – Protection to 2.43 crore
poorest of poor families under the
Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) to supply
of 35 kg foodgrains per month per family
would continue.
 Bill seeks to utilize already existing
infrastructures like PDS and
aganwadi’s. This has prevented further
wastage of money to develop the
infrastructures.
51

52. • Bezbaruah (2013) opinioned that the successful
implementation of this ambitious food security
program will weave a meaningful safety net for a vast
majority of Indians who eke out their living in the un-
organized sector virtually devoid of any social
security system to fall back upon .
52

53. Negative impact
 The very low prices of the subsidized food will distort the market and
farmers who can’t sell to the government-assured program will lose out on
the open market because prices will be forced down.
 Small land holdings farmer diverted from food grain production.
 Some farmers who don’t need subsidized grain because they grow it.
Corrupt intermediaries who often run the public distribution system could
then pay farmers off for their share of grain and sell it in the open market,
which is likely to lead to an over-supply of grain and a collapse in prices.
53

54.  Inadequte food production In bad
agricultural years, the country may have
to import food. Since India is not
normally an importer, even a small order
of 5-10 million tonnes will rock the
international markets. As international
prices are far above domestic prices, the
subsidy bill will bloat even more
Contd…
54

55. Challenges
 Lead to some impact on the farm sector as the Bill’s focus
on cereal and food grain production ―may distort the farm
production structure by not providing the right incentives
for other crops such as pulses, oilseeds and cash crops,
states need to identify the beneficiaries
 The Bill does not categories properly between BPL and APL
and both are entitled to 5 Kg grain per person per month.
55

56. Type of
leakage
Percent States
Total
leakage
Abnormal leakage A>70 % Bihar and Punjab
Very high leakage 25-50% Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka,
Maharashtra and Rajasthan
Low leakage <25 % AP, Kerala, Orissa, TN and west Bengal
Leakage
at fair
price
shop
Very high leakages >50% Bihar, Haryana and Punjab
High leakage 25-50% UP & Rajasthan
Moderate
leakage
10-25 % Bihar, Gujarat, KTK, Maharashtra,Orissa,TN
and West Bengal
Low leakage <10% Assam,HP,MP, Orissa,TN & West Bengal.
Leakage
through
ghost
card
Very high Leakage >30% Assam,HP &MP.
High leakage 10-50% Bihar, Gujarat,Ktk,Maharashtra, Orissa,
Uttarpradesh and west Bengal
Moderate leakage <10% AP,Haryana,Kerala,Punjab, Rajasthan and TN
Leakages from PDS
Source: Planning Commission Government of India New Delhi 2005
Table no. 7
56

57. Diversion of Food grains (kg/BPL Family/annum)
State
Off take by
States
Off-take by identified BPL
families
Food Grains not reaching the poor
house hold
AP 466.16 197.62 268.51
Assam 490.76 227.32 263.44
Bihar 138.13 12.24 125.89
Gujarat 320.24 169.47 150.77
Haryana 416.16 138.79 277.37
HP 492.22 266.14 226.08
KTK 480.80 139.91 340.89
Kerala 407.58 248.58 159.00
MP 365.57 124.04 241.53
Maharashtra 347.29 227.27 120.02
Orissa 276.37 175.88 100.49
Punjab 364.24 38.25 326.00
Rajasthan 366.53 238.43 128.10
TN 525.95 181.14 344.81
UP 285.16 92.73 192.43
West Bengal 336.78 246.19 90.59
16 states total 380.00 160.25 219.75
Table no. 8
Source: Ghumaan and Dhiman(2013)
57

58. The Major reasons for leakage are:
Inclusion Error
Ghost Cards
Shadow Ownership
Non-accountability of FPS

59. 59

60. Figure 5. Gap in Storage Capacity with FCI
Source : CAG
60

61.  India’s population is likely to reach 1.5 billion by 2030, the
challenge facing the country is to produce more and more
from diminishing per capita arable and irrigation.
 Given the rising costs of the scheme and rising population, its
sustainability is under question. This is a mega program and
will require a huge food subsidy. The cost of it will go up from
0.8% of Gross Domestic Product to around 1.1% of GDP. This
is a serious increase in a situation where the government does
not have enough resources
61

62. Crop Projected demand
during 2020 by
NCAP
Estimated
production for
2020
Demand projected for
Vision 2020 (by
planning commission)
Rice 130 117.08 119
Wheat 110 105.64 92
Coarse grains 34.92 15.6
Total Cereals 236.99 262.2 226.6
Pulses 43.61 42.8 19.5
Total food grain 280.6 278.62 246.1
Oilseed 85.33 40.62
(in million tonnes)
Source: Policy Brief on demand for foodgrains during 2020,Ramesh Chand, NCAP, New Delhi
Table no. 9
62

63. Food items
Gap (Supply-Demand)
2011 2021 2026
Rice 1.26 8.98 9.13
Wheat 21.21 27.33 32.04
Total cereals 21.19 -2.94 -16.97
Pulses -8.05 -24.92 -39.31
Edible oil -6.66 -17.68 -26.99
Sugar -4.31 -39.67 -74.13
Source: Surabi (2011)
Supply-Demand Gap for selected Food Item (million tones)
Table no. 10
63

64. Criticism of
NFSA….
64

65. No place for pulses and oil in
the entitlement, so fails to
address the widespread problem
of malnutrition
No agriculture and production-
related entitlements for farmers
65
ICMR norms: adult requires 14kgs and
children 7kgs of food grains per month.
But the act provides 5kgs per person per
month

66. No entitlements to destitute,
homeless and starving persons
No entitlements to the third and
onward born child.
66

67. • Patnaik (2013) opinioned that the NFSA, in its present shape
is only a small, incremental step in the right direction with
little resemblance to the legislation that had been shaped and
drafted by the Right to Food Campaign. The legislation will
certainly deal with crucial aspects of access and availability of
food for a large section of the population, but has left out the
entire nutritional dimension of the right to food. It will
mitigate hunger, but not address the underlying problem of
malnutrition to the extent that it could potentially have.
67

68. • Kalkoti (2012) suggested that the only way forward to address
the issue of food for all is to pay attention to the much neglected
supply-side. Strengthening the farm production base and raising
productivity by all possible ways and means. This calls for a
combination of visionary and committed leadership with
political will to address issues of our rain dependent farming
system, predominance of small unviable holdings and tenant
farmers, and extremely weak rural infrastructure to sustain farm
development. This necessitates assessment and mobilization of
financial, technological and human resources.
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69.  The Food Bill should be linked to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) which assures 100 days of
unskilled work to people in the rural areas.
 It could also be linked to education as is done in Bangladesh where school
children and their families are given access to subsidized food. In India we
have the midday meal scheme for children to improve their attendance in
schools.
 The bill should have included subsidized rates for pulses which for many
of the poorest are the only source of protein and other nutrients.
 Food and nutrition insecurity can be effective only with adequate attention
to ensuring access to safe drinking water and hygiene and sanitation
facilities.
 Need to reduce the leakages from the distribution system and make it
transparent 69

70. • Surender Kumar (2013) suggested that for the effective
implementation of food security act various measures should
be taken such as encouragement of Future market to avoid
wide fluctuations in prices and prevent distress selling by small
farmers, improvement communication system through ICT to
help farmers to get a better deal for their produce. Crop
insurance schemes can be promoted to protect the farmers
against Natural Calamities. The Government should encourage
the use of latest techniques; motivate each district/block to
achieve local self-sufficiency in food grain production. Thus, by
ensuring above stated measurements, India can achieve food
security in real sense and in a realistic time frame.
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71. 71
Conclusion
•India will not have problem of Cereals availability in the long
run (2020-21) and will have shortage of Pulse and Oilseed
production if adequate steps are not taken by the Government of
India.
•Given the inflationary tendencies in economy, Food Security
Act 2013 will increase the Real Income of the targeted
beneficiaries.
•To ensure success of Food Security in India we have to achieve
the Food Production Targets and improve the efficiency of public
distribution system.

72. “There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the
form of bread.”
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
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73. • difference between ordinance an act......
• An Act is a bill that was presented in a State legislative
home/Parliament of India, passed by both the houses of the State
legislature or Parliament, sent for accent of the State Governor or
the President of India, and then it becomes an Act.
• Whereas ordinance is a legal order or law made by the State
Government or the Union Government when the Legislature or
Parliament is not in session, this a temporary arrangement made by
the said government with regard to such a law & its
implementation in the State or the whole of the country as the case
may be. Such ordinance is legal & can be implemented for the time
being, but it has to be passed by the State legislature or the
parliament within six months & made as a proper Act.
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