JASMINE JHA PRABHJOTE GILL

AASHLESHA PARMARSAAKSHI VERMAEKANKI SHARMA

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL

2

Friday, May 2, 2014

DEFINITION

The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable nutritious food.

Coined in 1974 - World Food Conference- Emphasis on state level security.

1996 - World Food Summit- Focus shifted to individuals.

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The National Advisory Council (NAC) submitted its proposals on Draft National Food Security Bill in Jan-Feb 2011.

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is defined as, public provisioning of food and related measures, to enable assured economic and social access to adequate food with dignity, for all persons in the country, at all times, in pursuance of their fundamental rights to be free from hunger, malnutrition and other deprivations associate with the lack of food and related matters.

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL (2011)

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The NAC recommended the shifting from household food entitlements to individual food entitlements.

Arguments in favour:

- Per capital entitlements are fairer

- Per capita entitlements would do away with the need for a precise definition and identification of households

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL (2011)

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Introduced in the Lok Sabha on Dec. 22, 2011.

Coverage of 75% of the rural population and 50% of urban population

Subsidised food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)

Submitted to Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution for examination

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL (2011)

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To provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Signed into law on September 12, 2013

Includes all of India

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL (2013)

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3/4 of rural population and 1/2 of urban population for subsidised grains under TPDS.

Entitlements to 5 kgs of rice, wheat and coarse cereals a month at Rs.3, Rs.2 and Rs.1 per kg.

The price for providing food grains will be initially valid for 3 years from the date of commencement of the Act.

Entitlement under the Act has been reduced from 7 kgs to 5 kgs, but no change in entitlement for 3.42 crore of poorest of poor families under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana which remains at 35kg per household per month.

FEATURES OF NSFA

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State Governments shall identify the eligible households under the Act within a period not exceeding 365 days, after the commencement of the Act.

Below 6 months of age: exclusive breastfeeding shall be promoted.

Age 6months 6 years: age appropriate meal, free of charge, through the local anganwadi.

Age 6-14 years: one free mid-day meal shall be provided every day in all schools run by local bodies, government and government aided schools up to Class VIII.

FEATURES OF NSFA

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Every pregnant and lactating mother is entitled to a free meal at the local anganwadi as well as maternity benefits of Rs.6000 in installments.

Creation of State Food Commissions.

In case of non-supply of the entitled quantities of food grains or meals to entitled persons under the Act, such persons shall be entitled to receive food security allowance from the concerned State government.

Ration cards would be issued to the eldest female members (18 years and above) of the household.

FEATURES OF NSFA

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Form of investment in human capital (Jean Dreze)

Right to food becomes legal

Helps with women empowerment, malnutrition etc.

Increase in the purchasing power of the poor

Uses existing machinery like PDS and aganwadis.

ADVANTAGES OF NSFA

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Cost of Implementation

1. The annual food subsidy will go up to Rs.1.3 lakh crores (1.3% of GDP)

2. Rs.85,000 crores food subsidy (2012-13)

3. Incremental cost will be more than just Rs.45,000 crores

- Setting up and running of Food Commissions and District Grievance Redressal Offices

- Expenditures on inter-state transportation of food grains

- Costs to be incurred on identifying beneficiaries

DISADVANTAGES OF NSFA

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Problems in Procurement

- Production has to go up by 25 million tonnes to meet NFSA needs assuming procurement must be maintained at 30% production of wheat and rice

- Objections Current procurement is already more than 30% of production Assumes a requirement of 75 million tonnes, where as only 62 million

tonnes is required by the NFSA Projected increase in agricultural production is not taken into account Only production of wheat and rice is considered, not coarse cereals.

DISADVANTAGES OF NSFA

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Risk of Leakages

- 54% 2004-05

- 44% 2007-08

- 35% 2011-12

Still high for states where PDS reforms are being undertaken.

Identification of Beneficiaries

Dipa Sinha: Instead of trying to identify the poor, it would be better to adopt an exclusion approach

DISADVANTAGES OF NSFA

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NFSA imposes a highly centralized model discouraging customized state level initiatives

- Existing schemes pursued by states with suffer considerably

- Section 40

Centralized Procurement has been found to be unsustainable

Consolidation of the existing ineffective Food Security Complex

Distribution of obligations between center and state

DISADVANTAGES OF NSFA

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The main importance of the Act is that it brings the right to food within the framework of legally mandated entitlements.

A tool for people to demand the State's accountability for hunger

NFSA will raise the demand for other goods and give the sluggish economy a much needed boost (Arun Kumar)

CONCLUSION

Thank you.

Friday, May 2, 2014