Q8.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?

The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, legally entitles a significant portion of India's population to subsidized food grains, aiming to ensure food and nutritional security for a life with dignity.

Salient Features of the National Food Security Act, 2013

• Legal Entitlement: Guarantees food as a right for 75% rural, 50% urban population.
• Subsidized Grains: Provides 5 kg food grains per person/month (rice Rs 3, wheat Rs 2, coarse grains Re 1). AAY gets 35 kg.
• Nutritional Support: Maternity benefits (Rs 6000) for pregnant/lactating women; meals for children (6 months-14 years).
• Women as Head: Eldest woman (18+) heads the household for ration cards.
• Grievance Redressal: Establishes a multi-tier mechanism.

How NFSA has helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition

• Legal Right: Transformed food security into a legal entitlement, enhancing accountability.
• Improved Access: Increased access to affordable food for vulnerable sections, reducing insecurity.
• Nutritional Gains: Contributed to better nutritional outcomes for women and children via targeted support.
• Women Empowerment: Head of household provision empowered women in food decisions.
• PDS Reforms: Catalyzed PDS digitization and Aadhaar linkage, improving transparency.

Challenges and limitations in achieving complete food security through NFSA

• Beneficiary Identification: Issues with identification lead to inclusion/exclusion errors.
• Leakages: Significant pilferage and diversion of food grains persist.
• Quality Concerns: Complaints regarding the quality of PDS food grains.
• Nutritional Diversity: Focus on cereals lacks adequate protein and micronutrients.
• Implementation Gaps: Uneven implementation and financial sustainability concerns.

While NFSA is pivotal, strengthening implementation, ensuring nutritional diversity, and plugging leakages are crucial. A holistic approach integrating agriculture, health, and sanitation is essential for complete food and nutritional security.