India's National Food Security Act (NFSA) intends to supply subsidized food grains to two-thirds of the country's 1.25 billion people. The passage of this Act in 2013 marked a major paradigm shift in the fight against food insecurity, from a welfare-based to a rights-based strategy. The purpose of this presentation is to examine the impact of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) on food security outcomes in India. Using a food security measurement methodology, it seeks to investigate the origins of the right to food rhetoric as well as the elements that contribute to perennial failure in food security outcomes. The talk then shifts its focus to the ongoing failure to address childhood malnutrition. The influence of the NFSA on India's food security outcome indicators is detailed in this presentation. The presentation suggests that, in order to ensure the nutritional security of Indians, governments must look beyond subsidized food grain aid.

1. NATIONAL FOOD
SECURITY ACT
2013
Group members
Rosemary Jacob
Roshan Thomas
Ruchira Shaju
Som Nepali
Soniya George

2. WHY NFSA
India :home to world's largest number of hungry people
243 billion adults are severely malnourished
2 billion women and children are anemic
Nearly 50% of children under the age of 5 are malnourished.
250 million children suffer from Vitamin A deficiency.

3. Food security, as defined by the United Nations’
Committee on World Food Security, means that all
people, at all times, have physical, social, and
economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious
food that meets their food preferences and dietary
needs for an active and healthy life.
FOOD SECURITY
MEANS Availability, accessibility and affordability of food to all
people at all time.

4. SIGNIFICANCE OF FOOD SECURITY
• It is a boost the agricultural sector.
• It also aids the government to regulate food prices.
• A boost in the agricultural sector would result in more job opportunities, as agriculture is a
labor-intensive sector. This would enhance economic growth and result in the reduction of
poverty.
• Access to nutritious food would enhance the overall health of the public.
• Food security is also important for global security and stability of the nation.

5. The Indian supreme court held that the
right to food compromises part of the
fundamental right to live with dignity
under Article 21 of the Constitution
In 2013 the Indian parliament followed the
supreme Court's lead and enacted
comprehensive legislation to ensure that the
right to food is fully realized and
implemented

6. WHAT IS NFSA?
An Act 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 and for matters
connected there with or incidental there to.

7. • The Act contains 13 Chapters and 4 Schedules.
• The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) plays an important role in the
entire workings of the Act. TPDS provides food security to people below the
poverty line.
• State Food Commissions have been established at state levels to oversee that the
objectives of this system are carried out.
• Under the system, beneficiaries will receive rice, wheat and millets at subsidized
rates per person per month.
• These States and Union Territories are to determine the eligibility of families to
derive benefits from this Act.
• Pregnant and lactating mothers have been guaranteed maternity benefits.
• Women’s Empowerment has been ensured by issuing ration cards to the eldest
woman of the family above the age of 18.
• State and district level redressal mechanisms have been put in place. A penalty has
also been devised for defaulting parties.

8. To provide rationed food
grains to 75% of the rural
population and 50% of the
urban population. To provide proper quality
and quantity of food at
subsidized/affordable rates.
To ensure that women and
children receive proper
nutrition and upliftment of
India’s overall health and
nutrition standards.
IMPORTANCE OF NFSA

9. SALIENT FEATURES
• Coverage and entitlement under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) : Upto 75% of the rural population and
50% of the urban population will be covered under TPDS, with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month.
However, since Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households constitute poorest of the poor, and are presently entitled to
35 kg per household per month, entitlement of existing AAY households will be protected at 35 kg per household per
month.
• State-wise coverage : Corresponding to the all India coverage of 75% and 50% in the rural and urban areas, State-wise
coverage will be determined by the Central Government. Planning Commission has determined the State-wise coverage
by using the NSS Household Consumption Survey data for 2011-12 and also provided the State-wise "inclusion ratios”.
• Subsidised prices under TPDS and their revision : Foodgrains under TPDS will be made available at subsidised prices of
Rs. 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains for a period of three years from the date of commencement of the Act.
Thereafter prices will be suitably linked to Minimum Support Price (MSP).

10. • In case, any State’s allocation under the Act is lower than their current allocation, it will be protected upto the
level of average offtake during last three years, at prices to be determined by the Central Government. Existing
prices for APL households i.e. Rs. 6.10 per kg for wheat and Rs 8.30 per kg for rice has been determined as
issue prices for the additional allocation to protect the average offtake during last three years.
• Identification of Households : Within the coverage under TPDS determined for each State, the work of
identification of eligible households is to be done by States/UTs.
• Nutritional Support to women and children : Pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age
group of 6 months to 14 years will be entitled to meals as per prescribed nutritional norms under Integrated
Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) schemes. Higher nutritional norms have been
prescribed for malnourished children upto 6 years of age.
• Maternity Benefit : Pregnant women and lactating mothers will also be entitled to receive maternity benefit of
not less than Rs. 6,000.
• Women Empowerment : Eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above to be the head of the
household for the purpose of issuing of ration cards.
• Grievance Redressal Mechanism : Grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels. States will
have the flexibility to use the existing machinery or set up separate mechanism.

11. • Cost of intra-State transportation & handling of foodgrains and FPS Dealers'
margin : Central Government will provide assistance to States in meeting the
expenditure incurred by them on transportation of foodgrains within the State, its
handling and FPS dealers’ margin as per norms to be devised for this purpose.
• Transparency and Accountability : Provisions have been made for disclosure of
records relating to PDS, social audits and setting up of Vigilance Committees in order
to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Food Security Allowance : Provision for food security allowance to entitled
beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled food grains or meals.
• Penalty : Provision for penalty on public servant or authority, to be imposed by the
State Food Commission, in case of failure to comply with the relief recommended by
the District Grievance Redressal Officer.

12. RESPONSIBLITIES UNDER NFSA
NFSA defines the joint responsibility of the Centre and State/UT Government. While
the Centre is responsible for allocation of required food grains to States/UTs,
transportation of food grains up to designated depots in each State/UT and providing
central assistance to States/UTs for delivery of food grains from designated FCI
godowns to the doorstep of the FPSs, the States/UTs are responsible for effective
implementation of the Act, which inter-alia includes identification of eligible
households, issuing ration cards to them, distribution of food grain entitlements to
eligible households through fair price shops (FPS), issuance of licenses to Fair Price
Shop dealers and their monitoring, setting up effective grievance redressal mechanism
and necessary strengthening of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

13. FOOD FOR ALL (Entitlements under NFSA 2013)
Priority Households(PHH)
Antyodaya Anna Yojana Households
Pregnant women and
lactating mother
Children(6 months to 6 years)
Children( 6-14 years)
Malnourished children.
5 kg grain per person a month at Rs. 3/ kg for rice, Rs.
2/ kg for wheat. Rs. 1/kg for millets
35 kg grain per month is provided to poor households.
Free meals until up to 6 months after children and Rs.
6,000 in instalments
An age-appropriate free meal l, through the local
Anganwadi
One free mid day meal a day at state-run or aided schools
up to class VIII
Free meals through the local Anganwadis
Group Entitlements

14. CHALLENGES TO FOOD SECURITY
• Climate Change: the increase in the global temperatures and the capricious
(unpredictable) rainfall makes farming difficult. A change in the temperatures not only
impacts the crops but the other species which are reared for food such as fisheries,
livestock, etc.
• Lack of Access: there is a lack of access to remote areas. The tribals and other
communities living in remote areas do not get the opportunity to avail of the benefits of
the schemes implemented for food security due to lack of access.
• Over-population: A substantial increase in the population when not accompanied by an
increase in agricultural production results in a shortage of food.
• Non-food crops: crops grown for commercial purposes such as biofuels and dyes have
reduced the area under cultivation for crops.
• Migration from Rural-Urban cities: This causes a problem as it leads to a lot of
confusion as to which PDS (Public Distribution System) shop to buy the subsidies
from.

15. The effective implementation of the NFSA remains with the states/UTs and as governance differs from state
to state, the effectiveness of the implementation would also differ in each state.
• Lack of Transparency: According to a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit conducted in 2016,
the wrong people were benefiting from the NFSA.
• It accuses many states of implementing the NFSA despite owning the information that their beneficiaries
list is spurious (fake).
• Leakages in PDS: a leakage indicates that the food grains do not reach the intended beneficiaries. The
leakages may be of three types:
⚬ Pilferage (stealing) during transportation of food grains
⚬ diversion at fair price shops to non-beneficiaries and,
⚬ exclusion of entitled beneficiaries from the list.
• Storage: According to the CAG audit, the available storage space was inadequate for the allocated
quantity of food grains.
• Quality of food grains: people often complain that the quality of the food grains is not up to the mark
and that the grains sometimes have to be mixed with other grains to be edible. Complaints stating that
the grains also consist of non-food particles such as pebbles have also been registered.
NFSA CRITICISMS

16. News Reports

17. The Government should provide strategies for better food storage, and adopt an integrated policy
framework to facilitate agriculture productivity.
• The usage of Information Technology throughout the process from acquisition of the food grains till
distribution will aid in enhancing the effectiveness of the process.
⚬ For example, in January 2021, DigiLocker facility has been advocated for adoption in the PDS.
This is to help making e-ration cards accessible for the beneficiaries anytime from anywhere under
One National One Ration Card Scheme.
• Information regarding the entire process from the quality of food grains to the storage facilities where
the grains were stored, should be available to the beneficiaries.
• A one ration card system (for more on this, check PIB dated Aug 9, 2019) would be effective in
eliminating the confusion, especially for the migrants, as this would provide the beneficiaries the
freedom to choose from the PDS shop of their choice.
• Expand the coverage of Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS) to all the states.
WAYS TO INCREASE EFFECTIVENESS
OF NFSA

18. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS
• Ensure that the eligible people get all the benefits and their needs are fulfilled.
• Give awareness to the people regarding the subsidies and all other food
supplies available.
• Advocate the complaints of people regarding the food quality.
• Ensure woman and children receive proper nutritional food products and are
used effectively.
• Conduct surveys to understand the availabilty and accessibilty of food to all
people.

19. AMMENDMENTS
• NFSA amendment to ensure subsidised food grains to rightful beneficiaries
The Department of Food & Public Distribution recently issued a notification to ensure
right quantity to beneficiaries in distribution of subsidised food grains as per their
entitlement under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, according to a Press
Information Bureau (PIB) release.
The NFSA has been amended with effect from 18 June 2021 so that any savings accrued
by any state/Union Territory can be utilised for purchase, operations and maintenance of
electronic weighing scales and their integration with the point of sale devices. This
would encourage other states to generate savings through judicious use of ePoS devices.

20. • Subsidized rations for homeless soon: Govt
The Government will soon bring out a scheme to provide subsidised rations to homeless
people and those who don’t have ration cards.
The Government is in the final stages of developing a system to capture the data of
homeless and the destitute having no ration cards, so that the benefit of subsidized food
grains can be extended to them also. The whole system is basically to capture all
homeless, shelter-less destitute, who might not have ration cards,”