The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) is an important initiative for food security of the people. With a view to make receipt of foodgrains under TPDS a legal right, Government of India has enacted NFSA which came into force w.e.f. 5-7-2013.
The Act provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidized foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), at Rs.1/2/3 per kg for coarse grains/wheat/rice respectively at 35 kg per family per month to households covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and at 5 kg per person per month to priority households.
Food Subsidy
The provision of minimum nutritional support to the poor through subsidized foodgrains and ensuring price stability in different states are the twin objectives of the food security system.
In fulfilling its obligation towards distributive justice, the Government incurs food subsidy.
While the economic cost of wheat and rice has continuously gone up, the issue price has been kept unchanged since 1st July, 2002.
Due to implementation of NFSA, CIP has further gone down for APL and BPL categories. The Government, therefore, continues to provide large and increasing amounts of subsidy on food grains for distribution under the TPDS/NFSA and other nutrition-based welfare schemes and open market operations.
