• Union Food Minister released the first State Ranking Index for implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• Among the 20 big states and Union Territories (UTs), Odisha topped the list while Goa came last.
• Tripura ranked first and Ladakh came last among the 14 smaller states and UTs.
• The states and UTs were ranked based on three parameters for the year 2022.

1. Measures coverage of NFSA, rightful targeting, and implementation of all provisions under NFSA.
2. Analyses the delivery platform while considering the allocation of food grains, their movement, and last-mile delivery to Fair Price Shops (FPS)”.
3. Focuses on nutrition initiatives of the department”.

Salient features of the National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013:

• The basic concept of food security is to ensure that all people, at all times, should get access to the basic food for their active and healthy life and is characterized by availability, access, utilization and stability of food.
• The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was introduced by the Government of India in 2013.
• The Act provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), thus covering about two-thirds of the population.
• The eligible persons will be entitled to receive 5 Kgs of food grains per person per month at subsidised prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
• The existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute the poorest of the poor, will continue to receive 35 Kgs of food grains per household per month.
• The Act also has a special focus on the nutritional support to women and children.
• Besides meal to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after the child birth, such women will also be entitled to receive maternity benefit of not less than 6,000.
• Children upto 14 years of age will be entitled to nutritious meals as per the prescribed nutritional standards.
• In case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals, the beneficiaries will receive food security allowance.
• The Act also contains provisions for setting up of grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels.
• Separate provisions have also been made in the Act for ensuring transparency and accountability.

Constitutional Provision :

• The Indian Constitution does not have any explicit provision regarding right to food.
• The fundamental right to life enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution may be interpreted to include right to live with human dignity, which may include the right to food and other basic necessities.

Model Question

Q. With reference to the National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013, consider the following statements :

1. Central Government shall provide assistance to the States to meet the expenditure incurred on intra-State movement.
2. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000.

Which of the statements given above is /are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : C

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