Why is the Centre revising the NFSA?, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Union government has proposed an amendment to the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
• The amendment seeks to change the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) entitlement from 35 kg of foodgrains per household to 7 kg per person, with a maximum of 35 kg per household.
• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Kerala's Food Minister Anoop Jacob, along with the CPI(M) Polit Bureau, have voiced opposition to the proposed change.
• The public comment period for the draft amendment was open until July 13.

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Detailed Insights:

• The proposed amendment aims to address intra-category inequities in the existing household-based entitlement under AAY.
• The Food and Public Distribution Department stated that smaller households currently receive a higher per-capita entitlement, while larger households receive less.
• The change is intended to rationalize foodgrain allocation and better align entitlements with nutritional requirements.
• Kerala and Tamil Nadu have a long history of robust Public Distribution System (PDS) and food security policies.
• Kerala's Food Minister highlighted that states with nuclear families would be at a disadvantage due to reduced foodgrain allocation for smaller families.
• Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister noted that the amendment would significantly reduce the state's monthly foodgrain allocation for AAY cardholders.
• Critics suggest the amendment could lead to a "North-South divide" in foodgrain allocation due to varying average family sizes across states.
• The amendment does not address the issue of inclusion of ineligible persons as beneficiaries, which remains a problem at the state level.

Key Concepts Involved:

• National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: An Act of the Parliament of India that aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the country's population.
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY): A scheme under the NFSA providing highly subsidized food grains to the poorest of the poor households.
• Public Distribution System (PDS): An Indian food security system that distributes subsidized food and non-food items to the poor through a network of fair price shops.