The National Food Security Bill aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India's population. It establishes the right to food as a legal entitlement and sets out the responsibilities of central and state governments to implement food security. However, there are concerns about the ability to effectively implement such a large program given existing issues with food distribution systems and whether the necessary resources will be available. While intended to address hunger, critics argue the bill may have more to do with upcoming elections and does not sufficiently ensure nutrition security.

1. NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL
Presented by:Urvashi Sahu
Shubham Singh
Vikas Shukla
Shailesh Sinsinbar
Vishal Singh
Yogendra Tyagi
Will it make the Dream of a HungerFree India into a Reality?

2. WHAT IS FOOD SECURITY?
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(WHO)
ORGANIZATION (FAO)
Food Availability - Having available
sufficient quantities of food on a
consistent basis
Definition - Food security exists
when all people, at all times, have
physical and economic access to
sufficient, safe, and nutritious food
Food Access - Having sufficient
to meet their dietary needs and
resources, both economic &
food preferences for an active and
physical, to obtain appropriate foods
healthy life
for a nutritious diet
Food Use - Appropriate use based on
knowledge of basic nutrition and
care, as well as adequate water and
sanitation
Components - Availability, Access,
and Absorption (nutrition)

3. What is National Food Security Bill 2013?
The Indian National Food Security Bill, 2013 (also Right
to Food Bill), was signed into law September 12,
2013.This law aims to provide subsidized food grains to
approximately two thirds of India's 1.2 billion people.
Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries are to be
able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible person per
month of cereals at the following prices:
•
rice at Rs.3 per kg
•
wheat at Rs.2 per kg
•
coarse grains (millet) at Re.1 per kg.

4. FOOD SECURITY NORMS IN INDIA
Court affirms the right to food as necessary to uphold Article 21 of
the Constitution of India, which guarantees the fundamental right to
“life with human dignity”
Closed PDS shops to be re-opened within one week
Food Corporation of India (FCI) was ordered to prevent wastage
States given the responsibility over implementation of schemes
Employment Assurance Scheme
Mid-day Meal Scheme
Integrated Child Development Scheme
National Benefit Maternity Scheme for BPL pregnant women
National Old Age Pension Scheme - destitute persons over 65
years
Annapurna Scheme
Antyodaya Anna Yojana
National Family Benefit Scheme
Public Distribution Scheme for BPL & APL families

5. Salient Features of the NFSB 2013
1.The states are responsible for determining eligibility;
2.Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious
"take home ration" of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least
Rs 6,000 for six months;
3.Children 6 months to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals
or "take home rations";
4.The central government will provide funds to states in case of short
supplies of food grains;
5.The current food grain allocation of the states will be protected by
the central government for at least six months;
6.The state governments will provide a food security allowance to the
beneficiaries in case of non-supply of food grains;
7.The Public Distribution System is to be reformed;
8.The eldest woman in the household, 18 years or above, is the head of
the household for the issuance of the ration card;
9.There will be state- and district-level redress mechanisms; and
10.State Food Commissions will be formed for implementation and
monitoring of the provisions of the Act.

6. COVERAGE OF TWO THIRD POPULATION
• Depending upon economic status of the State, the
Act covers upto 75% of the rural population and
upto 50% of the urban population
• It classifies the eligible households into two
categories i.e. Antodaya Anna Yojana families and
priority households
• Antodaya Anna Yojana families will continue to get
35 kg of foodgrains per month but at highly
subsidized prices of Rs. 3, Rs. 2 and Re. 1 per kg.
for rice, wheat and coarse grains respectively
• Each member of priority households will get 5 kg of
foodgrains at the same rates
• It entitles about two third of our 1.2 billion
population to subsidized foodgrains under the
Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)

7. Six myths about NFSB 2013
1. The Food Security Bill (FSB) costs 1 percent or 3
percent of India’s GDP, so it is expensive or
inexpensive.
2. The FSB will not affect the larger economy – or us –
that much.
3. The FSB will cover 67 percent of the population.
4. All we have to do is plug the leakages.
5. Warehousing reforms can fix the rot.
6. We could easily afford the FSB if we just paid more
taxes.

9. Pros of the NFSB 2013
 Right to food to become a legal right
 The bill provide uniform allocation of 5 kg foodgrain (per person) at fixed
rate of Rs. 3 (rice), Rs. 2 (wheat) and Rs. 1 (coarse grains) per kg to 75 per
cent of the rural population and 50 per cent of the poor in urban India – about
800 million people.
 Continuance of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
 Nutritional support to pregnant women without limitation are among other
changes proposed in the bill.
 For 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.
 Endevours to empower woman- The eldest woman in the household shall be
entitled to secure food from the PDS for the entire household.
 Bill seeks to utilize already existing infrastructures like PDS and aganwadi’s.
This has prevented further wastage of money to develop the infrastructures.

10. Cons of the NFSB 2013
 Effect on farmers and producers
 How to be implemented?
 Failure to define the beneficiaries are some of the shortcomings of the bill.
 Division among three groups – priority, general and excluded – and adopting a
complex, impractical and politically contentious ‘inclusive’ criteria that too to
be provided at later stage.
 Not enough resources.
 Based on schemes which are itself in trial stages.
 Implementing this bill could widen the already swollen budget deficit next
year.
 Critics say the food bill is little more than an attempt to help Congress,
reeling from corruption scandals, win re-election in a vote expected by next
May.
 Critics argue that eradication of malnutrition needs more than just removal
of hunger. Food security is necessary but not sufficient for nutrition
security.

11. UP, Bihar biggest
challenge to success
of Food Security
Bill: Jean Dreze
“In Chattisgarh, the dealers
compete for licenses and if
anyone is found
corrupt, license is given to
someone else. But in UP, there
is no check and there is the
monopoly of the distributor.
This is a big opportunity for
UP.” In Chattisgarh, PDS
outlets are managed by
community based
organisations.

12. Suggestions
 We should have learned lessons from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act (which provides 100 days of work to the poor
at 100 rupees a day) and strengthened it to make it more effective to
help the very poorest.
 Or we could link it to education as they did in Bangladesh where school
children and their families were given access to subsidized food.
 The bill should have included subsidized rates for pulses which for many
of the poorest are their only source of protein .
 We need to reduce the leakages from the distribution system and make
transparent.
 Community based agricultural programs and teaching about sustainable
farming shall enhance production in the country. And this in turn would
bring down the prices of various essential commodities.

13. Who said what on NFSB
 It is time to send out a big message that India can take
responsibility of ensuring food security for all
Indians...our goal is to wipe out hunger and malnutrition all
over the country: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
 This is not a food security bill, it is a vote security bill.
The government took four years to come up with the food
security bill, and I thought it would be an extensive bill:
Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi.
 It is clearly being brought for elections ... Why didn't you
bring this bill earlier when poor people were dying because
of hunger? Every election, you bring up a measure. There
is nothing for the poor : SP chief Mulayam Singh.
 It would have been a better Bill if my amendments were
passed. However, we will improve it when we come to
power: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma
Swaraj.

14. Conclusion
The intent of the National Food Security Bill is
spelled out in the Lok Sabha committee report, The
National Food Security Bill, 2013 , which states,
"Food security means availability of sufficient
foodgrains to meet the domestic demand as well as
access, at the individual level, to adequate
quantities of food at affordable prices." The report
adds, "The proposed legislation marks a paradigm
shift in addressing the problem of food security –
from the current welfare approach to a right based
approach. About two thirds of the population will be
entitled to receive subsidized foodgrains under
Targeted Public Distribution System."

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