For around 800 million people, the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, and the Public Distribution System (PDS) offer a critical safety net. Even PDS detractors acknowledged the PDS’s assistance during the COVID-19 shutdown.
Background: COVID-19 lockdown and policy gaps in ensuring food security
- The PDS still excludes far too many people: It became clear that far too many people were still not included in the PDS as a result of the humanitarian situation brought on by the COVID-19 lockdown.
- Government action: The Government promptly took one sane policy decision in response to the humanitarian situation. The 800 million people already enrolled in the PDS had their entitlements increased by twofold (from five kilogrammes per person per month, to 10kg). For people without ration cards, however, that is useless.
National food security Act (NFSA)
- Two-thirds of India’s 1.2 billion people are expected to get subsidised food grains as a result of the NFS Act of 2013.
- Legal rights for current food security initiatives: On September 12, 2013, it became official, going back to July 5, 2013. It transforms into legal entitlements for the Government of India’s ongoing food security programmes.
- Integrating various government initiatives: It consists of the Public Distribution System, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme, and Midday Meal Program (PDS). While the PDS will reach around two thirds of the population (75% in rural areas and 50% in urban areas), the Midday Meal Scheme and the ICDS are universal in character.
- It acknowledges maternal entitlement: Daily free cereals are available to expectant moms, nursing mothers, and specific categories of youngsters.
- Important clauses: People who live in “qualified households” have a legal entitlement to receive foodgrains at a discounted price under the NFSA. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System, it contains coarse grain at Rs. 1/kg, wheat at Rs. 2/kg, and rice at Rs (TPDS). We refer to these as primary issue prices (CIPs).
Public Distribution System (PDS) coverage
- The NFSA 2013’s Section 3(2) governs PDS coverage.
- According to the statement, qualified households’ entitlements “should extend up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population.”
- The total number of people who must be covered, according to Section 9 of the NFSA, “must be computed on the basis of the population estimates as per the census of which the relevant numbers have been published.”
The exclusion problems
- The exclusion issue may be brought on by the NFSA coverage ratios being too low to begin with or by the “freeze” in coverage in absolute terms (around 800 million).
- Population growth has not been taken into account: Since the 2011 Census, population growth has not been taken into account for calculating the number of ration cards. The 2021 Census could hardly have been predicted to be postponed forever. This demonstrates that not even a decadal update has taken place.
- Lack of understanding of the issue: There is no effort made to comprehend or address the struggles faced by those who lack the PDS’s safety net of food security.
- Observation and advice from the court: The Problems and Misseries of Migrant Laborers case was brought before the Supreme Court of India as a result of government inactivity. The Court acknowledged that the request for more coverage “looks sincere and warranted.” “Come out with a formula and/or appropriate policy/scheme, if any, so that the benefits under NFSA are not restricted as per the census of 2011 and more and more needy persons/citizens obtain the benefit under the National Food Security Act,” it instructed the Union of India. The Court went on to say that the Government may remedy this problem through “projection of population expansion.”
- States being burdened: The government makes several attempts to place the blame on state governments in its reaction. Once the States receive the numbers to be covered by the federal government, they are in charge of identifying individuals for PDS ration cards.
Way forward
- Many State governments have used their own funds, including those of impoverished States like Chhattisgarh and Odisha, to increase coverage over the limits set by the federal government.
- An expansion is only financially feasible with strong procurement trends and a secure position in food stocks.
- The Supreme Court’s directive to account for population growth will result in an increase in coverage of about 10%. (from 800 million to 900 million).
- Any realistic strategy should have a system for annually adjusting coverage to take population growth into account.
@the-end
The Supreme Court should be firm and order the Government to get started allocating the additional coverage of roughly 100 million across States so that the States can begin identifying new ration card beneficiaries, rather than allowing the Government to continue delaying this (the matter has been in court since 2020).