National Food Security Act, 2013

File:Food security.JPG

Food security

== National Food Security Act, 2013 ==

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (also known as the Right to Food Act) is an Act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India's 1.2 billion people. It was signed into law on 12 September 2013, retroactive to 5 July 2013.

Objectives

The primary objective of the National Food Security Act, 2013 is to provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. The Act is a significant step towards the realization of the Right to Food.

Key Provisions

• **Coverage and Entitlement**: The Act covers up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month at subsidized prices.
• **Subsidized Prices**: Food grains are provided at highly subsidized prices of Rs. 3, 2, and 1 per kg for rice, wheat, and coarse grains respectively.
• **Identification of Beneficiaries**: The identification of eligible households is to be done by the State governments.
• **Nutritional Support to Women and Children**: Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children are entitled to meals under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
• **Maternity Benefit**: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to receive maternity benefits of not less than Rs. 6,000.
• **Grievance Redressal Mechanism**: The Act mandates the establishment of a grievance redressal mechanism at the district and state levels.

Implementation

The implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 is the responsibility of the Central Government and the State Governments. The Central Government provides the required food grains, while the State Governments are responsible for the identification of eligible households, distribution of food grains, and the implementation of other provisions of the Act.

Challenges

The implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 faces several challenges, including:

• **Identification of Beneficiaries**: Ensuring accurate identification of eligible households remains a significant challenge.
• **Leakages and Corruption**: The TPDS has been plagued by issues of leakages and corruption, affecting the delivery of food grains to the intended beneficiaries.
• **Infrastructure**: Inadequate storage and transportation infrastructure can lead to wastage of food grains.

Related Pages

• Public Distribution System
• Right to Food
• Integrated Child Development Services
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme
• Food Corporation of India
• Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution