National food security act 2013

Subject: Schemes

Context:

The Centre has written to State Governments and UTs to include all eligible disabled persons under the National Food Security Act, NFSA 2013.

Concept:

• The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is responsible for the provision of subsidized food grains to the population.
• The enactment of the NFSA marks a watershed in the approach to food security from welfare to a rights-based approach.
• The Act legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). About two-thirds of the population, therefore, is covered under the Act to receive highly subsidized food grains
• The food grains would be provided at highly subsidized prices under the Public Distribution System.
• The Act ensures nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant and lactating women would be entitled to nutritious meals, free of charge under the MDM and ICDS schemes.
• Children in the age group of 6-14 years would also be entitled to free nutritious meals under the MDM and ICDS schemes.
• Maternity benefit of not less than Rs.6000 is also provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• The Act also empowers women by identifying the eldest woman of the household as the head of the household for the purpose of issuing ration cards.
• The Central Government will be aiding the States to meet the expenditure incurred by them on transportation of food grains within the State and will also handle the Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers’ margins according to the norms.