Q. 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?

Model Answer:

National Food Security Act 2013: Features and Impact on Hunger Elimination

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 is a landmark legislation aimed at providing food and nutritional security to a large section of India’s population. The Act’s salient features include:

• Coverage and entitlements: It covers up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban population, providing 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month at subsidized rates (Rs. 3/2/1 for rice/wheat/coarse grains).

• Target groups: The Act focuses on priority households, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, and makes special provisions for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.

• Nutritional support: It ensures free meals for pregnant women and lactating mothers, and nutritional support for children aged 6 months to 14 years through various schemes (e.g., Mid-Day Meal scheme).

• Public Distribution System (PDS) reforms: The Act mandates computerization of records, fair price shops automation, and transparency measures to enhance efficiency and reduce leakages.

• Grievance redressal: It establishes a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism at district and state levels to address beneficiaries’ concerns promptly.

The NFSA 2013 has contributed significantly to eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India:

1. Increased food grain accessibility: The wider coverage and subsidized rates have improved access to food for vulnerable populations, particularly in rural areas (e.g., tribal regions, drought-prone zones).

2. Nutritional support for vulnerable groups: Targeted interventions for women and children have helped address malnutrition through schemes like ICDS and POSHAN Abhiyaan.

3. Improvements in food security indicators: National surveys, such as the National Family Health Survey, have shown positive trends in reducing hunger and malnutrition since the Act’s implementation.

However, the Act faces implementation challenges:

• Leakages in the PDS system (e.g., ghost beneficiaries)
• Exclusion errors and targeting issues
• Quality concerns of distributed food grains
• Limited diversification of food basket

To enhance the Act’s effectiveness, addressing these challenges is crucial. This includes improving targeting mechanisms, strengthening monitoring systems, and diversifying the food basket to include pulses and oils.

Conclusion: The NFSA 2013 has made significant progress in addressing food insecurity, but continued efforts are needed to overcome implementation challenges and improve its impact.