The salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013 are as follows:

1. Coverage: The Act aims to provide food and nutritional security by ensuring subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of the Indian population, including priority households and eligible beneficiaries.

2. Entitlements: Every identified beneficiary is entitled to receive 5 kilograms of food grains per month at subsidized prices. The Act also mandates nutritional support to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children through schemes such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the Mid-Day Meal (MDM).

3. Targeting and Identification: The Act lays down transparent criteria for the identification of eligible households and beneficiaries. It includes provisions for the State government to conduct regular surveys and maintain a proper record of beneficiaries.

4. Food Grain Procurement and Storage: The government is responsible for procuring food grains from farmers at minimum support prices and maintaining adequate food storage facilities to distribute the grains effectively.

5. Grievance Redressal: The Act establishes a two-tier grievance redressal structure to address any complaints or grievances related to the distribution of food grains and related schemes.

The Food Security Bill has played a crucial role in mitigating hunger and malnutrition in India in several ways:

1. Improved Access to Food: The Act has expanded the coverage of subsidized food grains, ensuring that a significant proportion of the population has access to affordable and nutritious food.

2. Nutritional Support: The Act emphasizes the provision of nutritional support to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children. This has helped in reducing malnutrition and improving the health of pregnant women and children.

3. Price Stability: The Act provides price stability by guaranteeing subsidized food grains, which provides relief to economically disadvantaged sections of society and offers a buffer against volatile market prices.

4. Targeting and Transparency: The Act has implemented crucial measures to ensure transparency and accountability in targeting beneficiaries. This reduces the chances of exclusion errors and ensures that the benefits reach the intended population.

5. Awareness and Empowerment: The implementation of the Act has led to increased awareness about food entitlement programs and the rights of beneficiaries. This has empowered individuals to assert their rights and claim the benefits they are entitled to.

While the Act has made significant progress in addressing hunger and malnutrition, challenges like leakages, inefficiencies, and inadequate implementation still persist. Continuous efforts are required to improve the targeting of beneficiaries and the overall effectiveness of the Act to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India.

Salient Features of the National Food Security Act, 2013:

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) is a landmark legislation aimed at ensuring food security for a large section of the Indian population. Its key features include:

1. Coverage:

• 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population are eligible for subsidized foodgrains.
• This translates to approximately 67% of the Indian population, covering over 800 million people.

2. Foodgrain Allocation:

• Priority Households: Receive 7 kg of subsidized foodgrains per person per month at the following prices:
• Rice: INR 3/kg
• Wheat: INR 2/kg
• Coarse Grains: INR 1/kg
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Households: Receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month at the same subsidized prices.
• Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Operates the supply chain for distributing subsidized foodgrains.

3. Other Provisions:

• Nutritional Support: The Act emphasizes providing nutritional support, particularly for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.
• Mid-day Meal Scheme: Promotes school meals to improve children's nutrition and school attendance.
• Food Security Allowance: Ensures financial assistance to those unable to access food due to natural disasters or other emergencies.

Impact of the Food Security Bill on Hunger and Malnutrition:

The Food Security Bill has significantly impacted hunger and malnutrition in India, although its effectiveness is debated:

Positive Impacts:

• Increased Food Access: The Act has significantly increased access to affordable food for millions of Indians, particularly those living below the poverty line.
• Reduced Hunger: Studies indicate a decline in hunger levels in India since the Act's implementation.
• Improved Nutritional Status: Some evidence suggests improvements in the nutritional status of children and pregnant women, especially in areas with high food insecurity.
• Increased Food Consumption: Data shows an increase in food consumption among beneficiaries of the Act.
• Reduced Food Price Volatility: The Act's price stabilization mechanisms have helped to mitigate food price fluctuations, benefiting vulnerable populations.

Challenges and Limitations:

• Leakages and Inefficiencies: The TPDS system suffers from inefficiencies, leakages, and corruption, limiting the reach of the benefits to intended beneficiaries.
• Limited Coverage: Despite its large coverage, millions of people still remain outside the Act's purview, particularly in urban areas.
• Focus on Food Grains: The Act primarily focuses on food grains and neglects other essential nutrients, potentially contributing to micronutrient deficiencies.
• Lack of Nutritional Education: Insufficient emphasis on nutritional education limits the effectiveness of the Act in addressing malnutrition comprehensively.

Conclusion:

The National Food Security Act, 2013, represents a significant step towards addressing hunger and malnutrition in India. While it has undoubtedly made a positive impact, challenges and limitations persist. The Act's effectiveness depends on improving the implementation process, addressing coverage gaps, and integrating a holistic approach to nutrition that goes beyond food grains.

It's crucial to acknowledge that while the Act has contributed to reducing hunger, eliminating it entirely requires a multi-pronged strategy addressing poverty, income inequality, and access to healthcare, sanitation, and education.

The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 is a landmark legislation in India that aims to provide food security to the citizens of the country, particularly the poor and vulnerable sections of society. The salient features of the NFSA are:

Key Provisions:

1. Entitlements: The Act provides for the following entitlements:

• Up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population will be covered under the Act.
• Priority households will receive 5 kg of foodgrains (rice, wheat, and coarse grains) per person per month at subsidized prices: ₹3/kg for rice, ₹2/kg for wheat, and ₹1/kg for coarse grains.
• Aayog households ( poorest of the poor) will receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month at the same subsidized prices.

2. Food Security Allowance: In case of non-supply of foodgrains or meals, the beneficiaries will be entitled to a food security allowance.
3. Maternity Benefits: Pregnant women and lactating mothers will receive ₹6,000 per child as maternity benefit.
4. Nutrition Support: Children up to the age of 14 years will receive nutritional support, including mid-day meals and take-home rations.
5. Social Audit: The Act provides for social audits to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Act.

Impact on Eliminating Hunger and Malnutrition:

The Food Security Bill has helped in several ways to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India:

1. Increased Access to Food: The Act has ensured that a large portion of the population has access to foodgrains at subsidized prices, reducing hunger and malnutrition.
2. Reduced Poverty: By providing food security, the Act has helped reduce poverty levels, as people are able to allocate more resources to other essential needs.
3. Improved Nutrition: The provision of nutritious food, including pulses and other essential nutrients, has improved the overall nutrition levels, particularly among children and women.
4. Reduced Malnutrition: The Act has helped reduce malnutrition levels, especially among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, by providing additional nutritional support.
5. Increased Food Availability: The Act has led to increased food availability, as the government has ensured adequate procurement and distribution of foodgrains to meet the demand.

Challenges and Limitations:

While the NFSA has been a significant step towards ensuring food security, there are certain challenges and limitations that need to be addressed:

1. Implementation Issues: The Act's implementation has been hampered by issues related to identification of beneficiaries, distribution of foodgrains, and corruption.
2. Funding Constraints: The Act requires significant funding, which has been a challenge, particularly in times of economic downturn.
3. Quality of Foodgrains: The quality of foodgrains supplied under the Act has been a concern, with reports of ration shops selling low-quality or rotten foodgrains.

Despite these challenges, the National Food Security Act, 2013 has been a crucial step towards ensuring food security and reducing hunger and malnutrition in India.