Why in News ?

Department of Food and Public Distribution under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has recently sent letters to States Governments/UTs to include all eligible disabled persons under the National Food Security Act 2013.

About Direction

NFSA section 38 authorises Central Government for give directions from time to time to the State Governments and for UT’s for effective implementation of the provision of act.

• Those not already covered should be covered with fresh ration cards issued as per the eligibility criteria.
• Disability is one of the criteria for inclusion of beneficiaries under Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Section 10 (1) (a) provide the coverage for persons under AAY, rest of the households as based on normal priority.
• Disabled persons without ration cards are also eligible for getting benefits under Atma Nirbhar Bharat package, scheme would lapse on August 31, 2020 scheme started in May 2020.

National Food Security Act 2013

Def : Act to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

• Through NFSA 75% rural and 50% urban population received subsidised food grains under Targeted Public  Distribution System.
• Nearly 80 crore persons have been covered under NFSA at present for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains.
• Identification of eligibility of beneficiary through state run process by
  • Exclusion of ineligible/fake/duplicate ration cards.
  • Exclusion on account of death.
  • Updating the migrated profile.
  • Inclusion of new born in household based on eligibility.
• Manipur has the highest percentage of coverage (rural 88.5%, Urban 85.5)

Antyodaya Anna Yojana

Public distribution system schemes in India implemented from 2000. It aims to ensure food security and to create hunger free India under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

AAY scheme covers the poorest of the poor in India by supply of food and other important commodities for their daily needs on subsidized rates.

• Eligibility for Antyodaya Anna Yojana
  • Family members falling under Below Poverty line can apply for this scheme
  • Annual income of Rs.15000 below families are eligible
  • Disabled persons can apply for this scheme
  • Widows and senior citizen of 60 years who heading a family can apply
  • Tribal Families in the rural and mountain areas is eligible for this scheme
• The identification of beneficiaries are carried out by State Government and UT Government
• Beneficiaries are classified into Rural amd Urban. Annual income below 15,000 is a common criteria.
  • Rural
    • Small and marginal farmers and landless agriculture labours
    • Physically handicapped persons
    • Rural artisans or craftsmen
    • Unprotected widows
  • Urban
    • Daily wager, domestic servants, Porters who earn small amount
    • Households headed by widows or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years
    • People living in slums
    • Marginal fruit and flowers sellers on roadside
• After the identification of beneficiaries AAY ration cards will be issued to families by the designated authority.

Source : PIB

Topic 

Prelims : AAY, NFSA 2013

GS : Issues relating to poverty and hunger