What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?(250 words 15 marks)

 The National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 is a comprehensive legislation aimed at ensuring food security for all citizens in India. Some of its salient features include:

  1. Coverage: NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population, providing them with subsidised food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).

  2. Entitlements: Under NFSA, eligible households are entitled to receive 5 kilograms of food grains per person per month at subsidised prices.

  3. Nutritional support: The act provides for the provision of nutritious meals to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children below the age of 14 years through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme.

  4. Grievance redressal mechanism: NFSA provides for the setting up of a grievance redressal mechanism at the national, state, and district levels, to address complaints and grievances related to the implementation of the act.

  5. Universalization of ICDS: NFSA calls for the universalization of the ICDS scheme, which provides for the delivery of essential nutrition services to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

The Food Security Bill has helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India by providing a legal entitlement to food to a large section of the population. It has increased access to food grains, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized sections of society. Additionally, the provision of nutritious meals through the ICDS scheme has helped address the problem of malnutrition among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

However, the implementation of the act has faced challenges, such as leakages and corruption in the PDS, inadequate coverage, and inefficient supply chain management. Despite these challenges, the Food Security Bill remains an important step towards achieving food security and reducing malnutrition in India.

In conclusion, the National Food Security Act of 2013 provides a comprehensive framework for ensuring food security for all citizens in India. While the act has helped in reducing hunger and malnutrition, there is still a need for effective implementation and continuous improvement to address the challenges faced by the system.

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