The Supreme Court (SC) directed the government to come out with a solution so that benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are not restricted in accordance with the Census 2011. And, more and more needy persons get the benefits under the Act.
- Keeping in mind that the ‘Right to Food’ is a fundamental right available under Article 21 of the Constitution, in 2021, the top court directed the Centre to re-determine coverage in accordance with Section 9 of the NFSA.
- The Centre had stated, in its affidavit, that the Act requires coverage to be updated in accordance with the latest Census figures. However, the 2021 Census has been postponed indefinitely and no date has been notified regarding its publication. So, coverage under the Act cannot be re-determined, the Centre added.
About National Food Security Act (NFSA)
- Government of India enacted National Food Security Act (NFSA) in July, 2013 which gives legal entitlement to 67% of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas) to receive highly subsidized foodgrains.
- Under the Act, foodgrain is allocated @ 5 kg per person per month for priority households category and @ 35 kg per family per month for AAY families at a highly subsidized prices of Rs. 1/-, Rs. 2/- and Rs. 3/- per kg for nutri-cereals, wheat and rice respectively.
- Coverage under the Act is based on the population figures of Census, 2011. The Act is now being implemented in all 36 States/UTs and covers about 81.35 crore persons identified by State Governments/ UT Administrations for coverage under the Act.
- The annual allocation of foodgrain under National Food Security Act and Other Welfare Schemes is about 610 Lakh Metric Tons.
- Now, the NFSA is being universally implemented in the country. There is no identified category of BPL under the NFSA. However, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries are clearly identified.
- One of the guiding principles of the Act is its life-cycle approach wherein special provisions have been made for pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years, by entitling them to receive nutritious meal free of cost through a widespread network of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres, called Anganwadi Centres under ICDS scheme and also through schools under PM POSHAN Scheme (earlier Mid-Day Meal scheme).
- Higher nutritional norms have been prescribed for malnourished children upto 6 years of age. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are further entitled to receive cash maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000 to partly compensate for the wage loss during the period of pregnancy and also to supplement nutrition.
