National Food Security Act, 2013 *********************** The National Food Security Bill 2013 also known as Right to Food Bill was signed into law September 12, 2013 by the President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee. This law aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people. Important Points to Remember: ********************* • The food security bill approved is directed towards giving the right to food to around 67 per cent of India’s 120-crore population (including 75% rural and 50% urban). • While families in the poorest of the poor will continue to get35 kg of grains per month. • Rice will be made available at Rs3/- per Kg. • Wheat will cost Rs.2/- a kg and cereal will be sold for1 Rupees per kg. • The Food Security programme will be the biggest in the world with the government spending estimated at Rs. 1,25,000 crore annually on supply of about 62 million tonnes of rice, wheat and coarse cereals to 67% of the population. • About 2.43 crore poorest of the poor families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme under PDS (Public Distribution System) would continue to get 35 kg of food grains per family per month but with legal entitlement. • In Union Budget 2013-14,Rs 10,000 crore set aside for incremental cost for National Food Security Bill. • The scheme will be linked to the Aadhar scheme which provides every citizen with a unique identification number that’s linked to a database that includes the biometrics of all card-holders. • C Rangarajan is the head of the committee for examination of the Food Security Bill. • Chhattisgarh the first state to pass legislation on food security. The state legislative assembly passed the Food Security Bill 2012 that confers legal rights to the beneficiaries to receive food grains and food items at highly subsidized prices. Salient features of National Food Security Bill 2013: ************************************ • ‘Twenty five percent’ of rural and 50 percent of the urban population are entitled for three years from enactment to five kg food grains per month at Rs. 3/- , Rs. 2/-, Rs. 1/- per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains (millet), respectively. • The states are responsible for determining eligibility; • Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious “take home ration” of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months. • Children 6 months to 14 years of age are to receive free hot meals or “take home rations”. • The central government will provide funds to states in case of short supplies of food grains. • The current food grain allocation of the states will be protected by the central government for at least six months. • The state governments will provide a food security allowance to the beneficiaries in case of non-supply of food grains. • The Public Distribution System is to be reformed. • The eldest woman in the household, 18 years or above, is the head of the household for the issuance of the ration card. • State Food Commissions will be formed for implementation and monitoring of the provisions of the Act.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 12:15:52 +0000
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