New Changes in the National Food Security Act, (NFSA) 2013

About new changes in NFSA 

• The recipients will now receive 35 kilogrammes of foodgrains free for the following year, and others will receive 5 kg free each month until December 2023.
• The additional funding for the programme has been projected by the Union government at Rs 2 lakh crore. The Union Government would be responsible for paying the entire cost of the programme.

Significance of the changes in NFSA

• The discontinuation of PMGKAY happens since the supply of food grains has been running out in recent months.
• The decision lessens the impact of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana's impending termination by the end of the month on the poor.

About National Food Security Act

• Under the NFSA, the Union government offers food grains (rice at Rs. 3 per kg, wheat at Rs. 2 per kg, and coarse grains at Rs. 1 per kg).
• By guaranteeing access to sufficient, high-quality food at affordable rates, the legislation seeks to safeguard people's food and nutritional security.
• Coverage: The NFSA covers 75% of the population in rural areas and 50% of the population in urban areas.
• Two categories of beneficiary households are:

Antyoday Anna Yojana (AAY): Regardless of the number of family members, AAY households are entitled to 35 kg of food every month.

Priority Households: Depending on the size of their family, priority households receive food grains (each member 5 kg per month).

• Meals and maternity benefits for expectant mothers and nursing mothers that total at least Rs. 6,000 during pregnancy and the first six months following childbirth.
• Children in the age group of 6-14 years would also be entitled to free nutritious meals under the Mid Day Meal and ICDS schemes.
• Beneficiaries receive a food security allowance if their meals or food grains are not provided as required.
• Creating state and district-level channels for handling complaints.

About Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY)

• During the Covid-19 epidemic in March 2020, the Central Government introduced the PM-GKAY welfare programme for food security.
• The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) includes it as a component to aid the underprivileged in their fight against COVID-19.
• Goal: To feed India's poorest residents by distributing grain to all of the priority families through the Public Distribution System (ration card holders and those identified by the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme).
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana, an initiative sponsored by the government and introduced in 2000, aims to feed millions of the world's poorest households with heavily discounted food.
• Implementing Agency: Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Finance.
• 5 kg of free wheat or rice are given to more than 80 crore recipients each month.
• This is in addition to the 5 kg of food grains that the National Food Security Act of 2013's beneficiaries already receive.
• It is regarded as the world's largest programme for food security.

News Source: The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/81-crore-people-to-get-free-foodgrains-for-one-year/article66299556.ece

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