National Food Security Act 2013

National Food Security Act 2013: On July 5, 2013, when National Food Security Act, 2013 was passed it leveled up the whole outlook of food security. It shifted the welfare-based approach of food security to one that is oriented around rights. Under the NFSA 2013, the rural population of up to 75% as well as 50% of the urban population are now authorized to receive subsidised food grains as per the Targeted Public Distribution System.

In a nutshell, about two-thirds of the total population is entitled to receive heavily subsidized food grains. The implementation of the NFSA Act, 2013 is all across the nation, which also signifies its importance. Let us learn more!

National Food Security Act 2013

Overview of NFSA 2013

Here’s an overview table summarizing the key aspects of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013:

Aspect	Details
Name	National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013
Enactment Date	Passed by the Indian Parliament on September 12, 2013
Objective	To provide subsidized food grains to eligible beneficiaries and ensure food security for all citizens of India
Coverage	The Act covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, with priority given to vulnerable groups like pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, and the homeless
Entitlements	Eligible households are entitled to receive specified quantities of food grains at subsidized prices through the Public Distribution System (PDS)
Identification of Beneficiaries	States and Union Territories are responsible for identifying eligible households based on criteria specified in the Act
Food Grains Allocation	The central government allocates food grains to states/UTs, which are then distributed through the PDS
Nutritional Support	The Act also includes provisions for nutritional support for pregnant women and lactating mothers, as well as free meals for children in schools
Grievance Redressal Mechanism	Establishes a grievance redressal mechanism to address complaints related to the delivery of food grains and other entitlements under the Act
Transparency and Accountability	Aims to promote transparency and accountability in the implementation of food security programs through regular monitoring and evaluation
Budgetary Allocation	The central government allocates funds for the implementation of the NFSA, with subsidies provided for the distribution of food grains
Amendments	The Act has undergone amendments over time to address operational challenges and improve efficiency in the delivery of food security benefits.

National Food Security Act 2013

The beneficiaries who are entitled to receive food grains under the National Food Security Act 2013 are divided into two categories. The first one is Priority Households, whereas the second one is Antyodaya Anna Yojana Households. The beneficiary receives 5 kg of wheat, rice, etc. Moreover, when it comes to the pricing of the grains, the price for wheat is Rs. 2 per kg, and rice costs Rs. 3 per Kg and the other grains Rs. 1 per kg. The prices of the food grains have not undergone any revisions in the Union Budget 2022. Therefore the same pricing will continue in the upcoming years as well.

National Food Security Act as per the Current year Union Budget 2024

• The National Food Security Act 2013 transformed into law on 12th September 2013.
• Sustainable development Goals as per the set standards of the United Nations General Assembly.
• Introduction of the schemes such as Mid-day Meals, Integrated Child Development Services, and Public Distribution System are adopted under the act.
• The implementation of the act is all across the nation.

National Food Security Act 2013: Substantial Data Facts

Beneficiaries	81.35 crores
Central Allocation	49.34 Lakh metric tonnes
State Allocation	i32.99 Lakh metric tonnes
Total Distribution	25.31 lakh metric tonnes

National Food Security Act 2013: Objective

The National Food Security Act 2013 ensures the good quality and quantity of the food at nominal rates. It ensures food and nutrition security to the human life cycle. Moreover, coming to the ground details of the act it levels up the whole nutritional values of a nation.

National Food Security Act 2013: Salient Features

The main features of the act are as follows:

• Coverage: The coverage or consumption as per the norms of states are done by NITI Aayog on the basis of Household Consumption expenditure Survey of NSSO.
• As per the NFSA 2013,rural population upto 75% as well as 50% of the urban population are now authorised to receive subsidised food grains.
• Two thirds of the total population is entitled to receive heavily subsidised food grains.
• The food grains will be provided at highly subsidised prices as per the norms of Public Distribution System.
• This Act will ensure the nutritional quotients of the children and women.
• Pregnant ladies and lactating mothers will now be entitled to receive free meals under the Mid-day Meals and Integrated Child Development Services.
• The pregnant ladies and mothers will be receiving maternity benefits of not less than Rs. 6000.
• Moreover, in the issue of the ration cards, the act empowers the eldest lady of the house as the Head of the Family.

National Food Security Act 2013: Beneficiaries

About two thirds of the total population is entitled to receive heavily subsidised food grains as per the Public Distribution System.

These beneficiaries are divided into two categories:

• Priority Households includes the household which are eligible to receive the benefits of National Food security Act 2013.
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana Households which includes the households which are headed by the widows of disabled persons or the ones which are above the age of 60.

National Food Security Act 2013: State Ranking Index 

The governing bodies have decided to set parameters to track the implementation of the National Food security Act.

Odisha	0.836	1
Uttar Pradesh	0.897	2
Andhra Pradesh	0.894	3
Gujrat	0.790	4
Dadar and nagar Haveli	0.787	5
Madhya Pradesh	0.786	6
Bihar	0.783	7
Karnataka	0.779	8
Tamil Nadu	0.778	9
Jharkhand	0.754	10
Kerala	0.750	11
Telangana	0.743	12
Maharashtra	0.708	13
West Bengal	0.704	14
Rajasthan	0.694	15
Punjab	0.665	16
Haryana	0.661	17
Delhi	0.658	18
Chattisgarh	0.654	19
Goa	0.631	20

Significance of the Food Security

India has also undergone the Bengal Famine where the nutritional quality and quantity of food was at its worst. Therefore, the matter of the utmost priority is to look after the situations of the present and to avoid any situation in future as of this.

Improvement in the agricultural sector

Agriculture is the labour intensive sector , therefore the increase in job opportunities will also be there.

Beneficiaries will get good quality food.

National Food Security Act 2013: Significance of Food Security

The whole idea of National Food Security presents the nation on better terms, whereas it also indicates access to basic nutritional quality food.

● As there is no provision of Right to food in the constitution, the NFSA 2013 ensures same

● This Act also ensures that Article 21 which says the Right to live with dignity is maintained.

National Food Security Act 2013: Obligations under NFSA

The National Food Security Act has very well defined the obligations of the Central Government, State Government and other local authorities. Moving ahead all the obligations are discussed:-

Obligations of Central Government

• The Central Government is entitled to provide the state government with specified amounts of food grains as per the TPDS.
• Allocation of the materials should be done keeping in mind the number of members in every family.
• The state government to be provided with the transportation amount by the Central Government.
• Assisting State Government in the management of expenditure.
• The creation and maintenance of the storage facilities at various levels should also be done by the Central Government.

Obligations of State Government

• Responsibility of implementing various schemes.
• The state government is responsible for organizing intra-state allocation of material.
• The state government is also supposed to determine the eligible beneficiaries as per the NFSA , 2013.
• The creation and maintenance of the storage facilities at various levels which includes blocks and districts should also be done by the State Government.

Obligations of the local authorities

• Effective implementation of the National Food Security Act should be done at their level.
• Whenever the State Government is assigning any duties to the local authorities, they should be performed diligently.

National Food Security Act 2013: NFSA Criticisms

Adopting this kind of act can truly level up the whole game of food security in the nation. Whereas, while implementing the act on the part of State Government and Union territories is not on equal grounds.

• Lack of transparency : As per the survey done by Comptroller and Auditor General of India it is found that the non eligible beneficiaries are taking benefit of National Food Security Act.
• Leakages in Public Distribution System : The leakage in the PDS indicates that the right beneficiaries are not getting benefitted from the NFSA.
• Storage: As per the norms set by Comptroller and Auditor General, the storage facilities were not adequate.
• Standards of food grains : It was observed that beneficiaries of NFSA were continuously complaining about the quality of the food grains they were getting.

Steps Adopted to Increase the Effectiveness of National Food Security Act, 2013

The Central Government should start looking for some effective measures in order to increase the efficiency of the National Food Security Act 2013. Some steps which are adopted for same are as follows:

• Extending the coverage of Integrated Management of Public Distribution Systems.
• Adopting Ration Card for the beneficiaries in order to avoid any confusions.
• Use of Information technology in order to run the quality check on various points in order to let the National Food Security Act work effectively on all grounds.

Conclusion

The National Food Security Act 2013 has the full potential to level up the genre of food security and nutrition. All it’s time to time quality checks on various measures adopted in the implementation of NFSA, 2013. The act has balanced the whole idea of nutrition in India. It has improved the agriculture sector, it has created job opportunities for the labour intensive sectors. Implementing various schemes under this act has leveled up the nutritional quotient and food security of the nation. Though there are certain challenges which are to overcome while adopting the act.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the objectives of the National Food Security Act,2013?

The National Food Security Act 2013 ensures the good quality and quantity of the food at nominal rates. It ensures food and nutrition security to the human life cycle. Moreover, coming to the ground details of the act it levels up the whole nutritional values of a nation.

What are the various significance of the National Food Security Act,2013?

The whole idea of National Food Security presents the nation on better terms, whereas it also indicates access to basic nutritional quality food.

What is National Food Security Act, 2013?

National Food Security Act, 2013 was passed to level up the whole outlook of food security. It shifted the welfare-based approach of food security to one that is oriented around rights. Under the NFSA 2013, the rural population of up to 75% as well as 50% of the urban population are now authorized to receive subsidised food grains as per the Targeted Public Distribution System. In a nutshell, about two-thirds of the total population is entitled to receive heavily subsidized food grains.

What is the aim of National Food Security Act ?

National Food Security Act , 2013 is oriented on the whole idea of taking food security of nation on better terms, whereas it also indicates access to basic nutritional quality food to the beneficiaries.

Who are entitled to receive befits under National Food Security Act, 2013?

As per the NFSA 2013,rural population upto 75% as well as 50% of the urban population are now authorised to receive subsidised food grains.