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NFSA: 81 cr. people to get free food grains for one year

GS Paper 2

 Syllabus: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

 

Source: IE

 Direction: The article tries to compare the government’s two food security schemes – National Food Security Act, 2013 and the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

 Context:

  • The Union government announced free food grains to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, for a year commencing in January 2023, combining economic prudence and the need of a safety net.
  • It has, however, discontinued the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), merging it with NFSA.
Comparing NFSA AND PMGKAY
NFSA PMGKAY
  • Objectives: To provide for food and nutritional security.
  • Key features:
    • Food grains at subsidised price – rice at Rs 3/kg, wheat at Rs 2/kg and coarse grain at Re 1/kg.
    • 2 categories of beneficiary – Antyoday Anna Yojana (35kg/family/month) and the Priority Households (5kg/person/month).
    • Covers 67% of the total population (75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population).
    • Meals to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
    • Maternity benefits of not less than Rs. 6,000 to such women.
    • Children up to 14 years of age will be entitled to nutritious meals.
    • In case of non-supply of entitled food grains or meals, the beneficiaries will receive food security allowance.
    • Grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels.
  • Launched in April, 2020 as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat to supply free food grains to migrants and poor amid Covid-19.
  • More than 81.35 crore people will be provided 5 kg free wheat/rice per person / month along with 1 kg free whole chana to each family per month.
  • This is over and above the regular monthly entitlements under NFSA.
  • Families belonging to the Below Poverty Line – AAY and PHH categories will be eligible for the scheme.

Significance of the move:

  • The discontinuation of PMGKAY comes at a time when the food grains stock has depleted over the months.
  • The decision softens the blow the poor may suffer with the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana being discontinued by the end of the month.

 

Insta Links: NFSA

 

Mains Links:

Q. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) with the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) add-on during the pandemic is a star achievement of our 75 years of independence. Elaborate. (250 words)