Que. 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?
राष्ट्रीय खाद्य सुरक्षा अधिनियम, 2013 की मुख्य विशेषताएँ क्या हैं? खाद्य सुरक्षा विधेयक ने भारत में भूख तथा कुपोषण को दूर करने में किस प्रकार सहायता की है?
Structure of the Answer
(i) Introduction: Introduce the “National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013,” emphasizing its role in addressing “hunger” and “malnutrition” through entitlement-based food security.
(ii) Main Body: Explain the “salient features” of NFSA and its impact on “eliminating hunger” and “malnutrition,” with focus on challenges and reforms.
(iii) Conclusion: Conclude by highlighting NFSA’s contribution in “achieving food security” and its potential to improve outcomes in “health and nutrition.”
Introduction
The “National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013” is a landmark legislation designed to ensure “food security” for the vulnerable population of India. It aims to combat “hunger” and “malnutrition” by providing legal entitlement to “subsidized food grains” for nearly two-thirds of the population.
Salient Features of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
The NFSA, 2013, includes several key provisions to address the issues of “hunger” and “malnutrition” in India:
(i) Legal Entitlement to Food: The Act entitles around 67% of India’s population to receive food grains at subsidized rates, ensuring “food security” for marginalized groups.
(ii) Coverage of Beneficiaries: The Act covers 75% of rural and 50% of urban households under the “Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS),” making food accessible to a majority of the population.
(iii) Nutritional Support for Vulnerable Groups: Special provisions are made for “pregnant women,” “lactating mothers,” and “children” to receive “nutritious meals” as part of the supplementary nutrition program.
(iv) Food Security Allowance: In case of non-supply of food grains, the Act mandates the provision of a “food security allowance” to beneficiaries, ensuring uninterrupted access to food.
(v) Empowerment of Women: The NFSA designates the “eldest female” member of the household as the head for the issuance of ration cards, empowering women and enhancing gender equality.
Impact of NFSA in Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition
The implementation of NFSA has significantly contributed to reducing “hunger” and “malnutrition” in India by addressing the immediate needs of the food-insecure population:
(i) Increased Food Access: The provision of subsidized food grains improves access to essential “nutrients,” reducing food insecurity for vulnerable groups, especially in rural areas.
(ii) Reduction in Hunger Levels: The Act directly addresses “hunger” by making food available at subsidized rates to the poorest sections of society, ensuring basic survival needs are met.
(iii) Combating Malnutrition: Nutritional support programs under the Act have contributed to lowering the incidence of “child malnutrition” and “stunting” by providing fortified and balanced meals for pregnant women and children.
(iv) Improved Public Health Outcomes: The availability of affordable food and nutritious meals has led to improved overall health, particularly among “children,” reducing the rates of “underweight” and “micronutrient deficiencies.”
(v) Social Security and Wellbeing: By securing food access, the NFSA ensures social security for low-income groups, offering “economic stability” and reducing vulnerability to “hunger-driven poverty.”
Challenges in the Implementation of NFSA
Despite its potential, NFSA faces several challenges that hinder its full effectiveness in addressing hunger and malnutrition:
(i) Corruption and Leakages: The “Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)” faces corruption and leakages, leading to the diversion of food grains meant for beneficiaries, diminishing the impact of the Act.
(ii) Identification Errors: Inclusion and exclusion errors in beneficiary identification, caused by outdated “data” and inefficiencies in the digitization process, result in deserving families being left out or ineligible ones being included.
(iii) Storage and Infrastructure Gaps: The lack of adequate “storage” facilities and infrastructure leads to food grain “wastage,” particularly in rural areas, reducing the overall availability of food in the system.
(iv) Suboptimal Quality of Food: The “quality” of food grains distributed under the NFSA is sometimes compromised, with beneficiaries receiving substandard food, which diminishes the nutritional value of the assistance.
(v) Monitoring and Accountability Issues: There is insufficient “monitoring” of the distribution system at the ground level, which leads to inefficiencies, fraud, and a lack of transparency in implementation.
Recommendations to Improve the Effectiveness of NFSA
To address the challenges and ensure the success of NFSA, several reforms and improvements are necessary:
(i) Strengthening TPDS with Technology: Implementing “Aadhaar-based authentication” and digital tracking of food grains would reduce corruption and ensure “targeted distribution” without leakages.
(ii) Regular Updating of Beneficiary Lists: Regular updates to the “beneficiary database” and periodic surveys would help avoid errors in the identification process, ensuring the right people receive the benefits.
(iii) Enhanced Storage and Distribution Infrastructure: Investment in “modern storage” facilities, as well as improved “transportation networks,” would help reduce wastage and ensure food reaches remote areas.
(iv) Quality Control Measures: Implementing strict “quality control” mechanisms to ensure the food grains meet acceptable standards would enhance the nutritional value of the food provided under NFSA.
(v) Community Participation and Oversight: Encouraging community involvement in “monitoring” and “feedback” mechanisms would improve accountability and ensure better service delivery under NFSA.
Conclusion
The “National Food Security Act, 2013” has made significant strides in addressing “hunger” and “malnutrition” by providing “affordable food” to millions. However, strengthening the implementation through “technological” and “structural” reforms is essential to ensure its continued success in achieving “food security” across India.
