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?
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?
The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 represents India's largest food security legislation, transforming food access from welfare to a legal entitlement for vulnerable populations.
Coverage and Legal Framework
- Population Coverage: 75% rural and 50% urban population (approximately 81 crore people)
- Legal Right: Food security becomes justiciable right with grievance redressal mechanisms
- Priority Categories: Antodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families and Priority Households (PHH)
- State Responsibility: Legal obligation on states to provide subsidized foodgrains
- Implementation Timeline: Phased rollout across states with specific deadlines
Entitlements and Benefits
| Category | Rice (₹/kg) | Wheat (₹/kg) | Coarse Grains (₹/kg) | Quantity per person/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAY Families | 3 | 2 | 1 | 35 kg per family |
| PHH | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 kg per person |
Additional Provisions:
- Maternity Benefits: ₹6,000 for pregnant women and lactating mothers
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Free nutritious meals for school children
- ICDS Coverage: Supplementary nutrition for children under 6 years
Impact on Hunger and Malnutrition Elimination
Positive Achievements:
- NFHS-5 data: Reduction in severe acute malnutrition from 7.5% to 7.7% (marginal improvement)
- One Nation One Ration Card: 99.9% integration enabling interstate portability for 81 crore beneficiaries
- PM-POSHAN: Covers 11.8 crore children across 11.2 lakh schools (2024 data)
- Digital Integration: ePoS devices reduce leakages and improve transparency
Persistent Challenges:
- Anaemia prevalence: Increased among children (67.1%) and women (57%) as per NFHS-5
- Targeting Issues: Exclusion errors affecting genuine beneficiaries
- Nutritional Quality: Focus on quantity over dietary diversity and micronutrients
- Regional Disparities: Implementation gaps across states
The NFSA has created a robust framework for food security, though achieving SDG-2 (Zero Hunger) requires enhanced focus on nutrition quality, better targeting mechanisms, and strengthened implementation through Mission POSHAN 2.0 and integrated approaches.
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