The National Food Security Act, 2013 (also 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 includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System it also recognizes maternity entitlements.
The total number of States/UTs now implementing the Act is 25. By April.2016 it is likely to be implemented in all remaining States /UTs.
Recent initiatives of the government in NFSA 2013 :
Digitisation of ration cards is one of the important components for making PDS leak proof, 97% cards across the country have been digitised, and soon 100 % will be digitised.
All the 36 States/UTs have online system for redressal of PDS grievances.
Direct Cash Transfer of food subsidy to the beneficiaries started in Chandigarh and Puducherry in September this year.
Procurement policy for paddy modified to ensure reach of MSP operations to more farmers. As a result huge paddy procurement has been made during Kharif season.
The Central Government decided to share 50% (75% in the case of Hilly and difficult areas) of the cost of handling & transportation of foodgrains.
Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution recommended for providing milk and eggs – pulses etc. under the schemes.
Online allocation of foodgrains implemented in 19 states/UTs.
Transparency portal to display all operations of TPDS launched in 27 States/UTs.
Relief for farmers:
The procurement policy has been modified and private firms have been allowed to procure paddy from farmers in a cluster, identified by the respective state government in the states of Assam, Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.These states lack necessary infrastructure.
Department of Food and Public Distribution had recommended an increase in the import duty to address the drop in international prices of imported oils was affecting the prices of domestically.
Import duty on Crude oils has been increased from existing 7.5% to 12.5% and the import duty on refined oils from existing 15% to 20%.
The Government took several measures to facilitate payment of cane price arrears by infusing liquidity into the sector.
A scheme for extending soft loans to the extent of Rs. 6000 crore to the sugar industry was notified last year
Government decided to pay a production linked subsidy of Rs 4.50 per quintal cane in 2015-16 season directly into beneficiary account.
The export incentive on raw sugar has been increased from Rs 3200/MT to Rs. 4000/MT.
The Government has enhanced import duty on sugar from 25% to 40% to discourage imports.
Blending targets under Ethanol Blending Programme scaled up from 5% to 10%.
as a result the cane price arrears came down from 21,000 cr last year to 2700 cr in January 2015 .
Reforms in FCI:
“Depot Online” system initiated in 30 sensitive depots,to bring all operations of FCI Godowns online and to check reported leakage.
The FCI has been asked to take up construction modern silos for storage of total 100 lakhMT capacity at different locations in the country under PPP mode which will help in maintaining the quality of foodgrains, minimize losses and ensure rapid bulk movement of foodgrains.
Government revised the buffer norms in January, 2015 for better management of foodgrain storage.
In order to ensure quality of products and services for common consumer, the Government introduced Bureau of Indian Standards Bill, 2015 in Parliament to replace 29 years- old BIS Act.
Consumer Protection Bill 2015 that seeks to simplify and strengthen consumer grievance redressal procedure introduced in the Parliament this year.
This was stated by Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution while briefing the media about programmes, policies and future road map of his Ministries
National food security act 2013
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