NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT RANKING 2022

sree nivas July 11, 2022 GS2 Leave a comment 339 Views

Recently, the first edition of the State Ranking Index for National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013was released.
The index seeks to document the status and progress of the implementation of NFSA across the country and various reform initiatives after consultation with the states.
It highlights the reforms undertaken by the States and Union Territories and creates a cross-learning environment and scale-up reform measures by all the States and Union Territories.
The current index is largely focused on NFSA distribution and will include future buyouts, PMKGAY (Pradhan MantriGaribKalyan Anna Yojana) distributions.

The index for ranking of States and UTs is built on three key pillars, which cover end-to-end implementation of NFSA through Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) These pillars are-

NFSA- coverage, targeting and provisions of the Act
Delivery platforms and
Nutrition initiatives

significance of the Index

The findings from the exercise revealed that most states and union territories have fared well in digitization, Aadhaar seeding, and ePoS installation, which reiterates the strength and scale of the reforms.
However, states and union territories can improve their performance in a few areas. Exercises, such as conducting and documenting social audits thoroughly and operationalizing functions of state food commissions across states and union territories, will further bolster the true spirit of the Act.
It will lead to healthy competition among States to further their enhance performance.

Issues Related to the Index

It excludes projects and schemes carried out by other ministries and departments within the NFSA.
The Index merely indicates the efficiency of TPDS operations; it does not reflect the level of hunger, malnutrition, or both in a certain state or union area.
Odisha has followed the adoption of the NFSA in the state in 2015 with robust end-to-end computerization of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)operations.
A 3.25 crore digitized beneficiaries database has been hosted in the public domain and is dynamically updated at 378 ration card management system (RCMS) centers, one in each of 314 blocks and 64 urban local bodies (ULBs).
Furthermore, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department’s 152 food storage facilities have been totally automated, with real-time electronic recording of 1.87 lakh MT foodgrains sent to 12,133 fair pricing stores across the State.
From July 2021, the One Nation, One Ration Card (ONORC) programme was introduced across the state.
After its implementation, PDS beneficiaries can now choose any fair pricing retailer of their choice and convenience to get their monthly benefits.
Every month, approximately 1.10 lakh families receive rations through the intra-state facility and 533 families through the inter-state programme.

NFSA

Notified on 10th September, 2013.
To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.
75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
Overall, NFSA caters to 67% of the total population.
Priority Households to be covered under TPDS, according to guidelines by the State government.
Households covered under existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

Provisions:

5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
The existing AAY household will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month.
Meal and maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after the child birth.
Meals for children upto 14 years of age.
Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
Setting up of grievance redressal mechanisms at the district and state level.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT

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