Expanding National Food Security Act’s protections
Source : Business Standard
GS II : Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; 

What is discussed under Expanding National Food Security Act’s protections?

1. Supreme Court’s direction and Response from Government
2. National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
3. What is One Nation One Ration Cards?

Why in News ?

The Supreme Court directed the Centre to come out with a solution so that benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) are not restricted in accordance with the Census 2011.

• And, more and more needy persons get the benefits under the Act.

Key Facts

Background

• Article 21 of the Constitution recognises the “Right to Food” as a basic right.

  

• In 2021, the Supreme Court ordered the Center to reassess coverage in compliance with Section 9 of the NFSA..
• The Union of India did not undertake any exercise to re-determine the coverage under the Act, the current petition was filed in the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court’s direction and Response from Government

• The apex court directed the Centre to re-determine coverage under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) so that “more and more needy persons and citizens get the benefit”.
• Supreme Court also noted that “Right to Food is a fundamental right available under Article 21 of the Constitution”.
• In the order, the court also directed States which were not able to register unorganised workers, including migrant labourers, in the eShram portal to do so within six weeks.
• Government Response
  • It has made it possible for all States and Union Territories to issue One Nation One Ration Cards which will benefit around 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries.

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

• The Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution is the nodal ministry for implementing this Act.
• It came into effect in July 2013 which offers 67% of the population the legal right to obtain heavily subsidised foodgrains
• This covers 75% of the population living in rural areas and 50% in urban areas, Act presently covers 81.35 crore people, is being implemented in all 36 States and UTs.

Food Security the access to enough food by all people at all times for an active and healthy life having  three Dimensions Food availability,
Food accessibility & Food affordability according to United Nations’ Committee.

Eligibility Criteria

• 1. Priority household category is entitled to 5 kg per person per month.
  2. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families are entitled to 35 kg per family per month.
• Ration Card is a document that the State Government issues to enable the purchase of necessities from stores with reasonable prices.

What is One Nation One Ration Cards?

• Beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) can get their quota of subsidised foodgrains from any electronic point of sale device (ePoS)-enabled fair price shops of their choice by using their existing ration cards with biometric authentication.
• ONORC programme has been successfully implemented in all states and Union Territories, making food security portable throughout the country.
• During the two years of the COVID-19 epidemic, the portability of ration cards has greatly helped to ensure that subsidised foodgrains are provided to NFSA beneficiaries, particularly migrant beneficiaries.
• Since 2019, about 71 crore portable transactions have taken place delivering foodgrains equivalent to about Rs 40,000 crore in food subsidy through portability.
• MERA RATION’ mobile application which has been rolled out to take maximum advantage of the ONORC plan.
• The mobile app is providing a host of useful real time information to the beneficiaries and is available in 13 languages.

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