Salient features of National Food Security Bill

The Bill seeks “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 and incidental thereto”.

Public Distribution System: Priority households are entitled to 5 kg of food grains per person per month, and Antyodaya households to 35 kg per household per month. The combined coverage of Priority and Antyodaya households shall extend “up to 75% of the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population”. The PDS issue prices are: Rs 3 for rice; Rs 2 for wheat; and Rs 1 for coarse grains. These may be revised after three years.

Children’s Entitlements: For children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years, the Bill guarantees an age-appropriate meal, free of charge, through the local Anganwadi. For children aged 6-14 years, one free mid-day meal shall be provided every day (except on school holidays) in all schools run by local bodies, government and government aided schools, up to Class VIII. For children below six months, exclusive breastfeeding shall be promoted. Children who suffer from malnutrition will be identified through the local Anganwadi and meals will be provided to them through the local Anganwadi.

Entitlements of Pregnant and Lactating Women: Every pregnant and lactating mother is entitled to a free meal at the local Anganwadi (during pregnancy and six months after child birth) as well as maternity benefits of Rs 6,000, in instalments. Every school and Anganwadi is to have facilities for cooking meals, drinking water and sanitation. For purposes of issuing ration cards, the eldest woman in the household (not less than 18 years of age) shall be considered head of the household.

The identification of eligible households is left to state governments, subject to the scheme’s guidelines for Antyodaya, and subject to guidelines to be specified by the state government for Priority households. The lists of eligible households are to be placed in the public domain and displayed prominently.

The Bill provides for the creation of State Food Commissions. Each Commission shall consist of at least two women and one member each from SCs and STs. The main function of the State Commission is to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Act, give advice to the state governments and their agencies, and inquire into violations of entitlements, either suo motu or on receipt of a complaint, and with all the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908. State Commissions also have to hear appeals against orders of the District Grievance Redressal Officer and prepare annual reports to be laid before the state legislature. The State Commission may forward any case to a Magistrate having jurisdiction, who shall proceed as if the case has been forwarded under Section 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973.

The Bill provides for a two-tier grievance redressal structure, involving the District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) and State Food Commission. State governments must also put in place an internal grievance redressal mechanism.

Transparency Provisions: Mandatory transparency provisions include: (1) placing all PDS-related records in the public domain and keeping them open for inspection to the public; (2) conducting periodic social audits of the PDS and other welfare schemes; (3) setting up vigilance committees at state, district, block and fair price shop levels.

District Grievance Redressal Officers: DGROS shall be appointed by state governments for each district to hear complaints and take necessary action according to norms to be prescribed by state governments. If a complainant or the officer or authority against whom an order has been passed by the DGRO is not satisfied, they may file an appeal before the State Food Commission.

Penalties and Compensation: The Food Commissions have powers to impose penalties. If an order of the DGRO is not complied with, the concerned authority or officer can be fined up to Rs. 5,000. In case of non-supply of the entitled quantities of food grains or meals to entitled persons, such persons will be entitled to a food security allowance from the state government, as prescribed by the central government.

PDS Reforms: Central and State governments shall endeavour to progressively undertake various PDS reforms, including: doorstep delivery of food grains; ICT applications and end-to-end computerisation; leveraging Aadhaar for identification of entitled beneficiaries; full transparency of records; preference to public institutions or bodies in licensing of fair price shops; management of fair price shops by women or their collectives; diversification of commodities distributed under the PDS and introducing schemes such as cash transfer, food coupons or other schemes to the targeted beneficiaries in lieu of their foodgrain entitlements, as prescribed by the Central Government.

Obligations of Government and Local Authorities: The main obligation of the Central Government is to provide food grains (or, failing that, funds) to state governments, at prices specified, to implement the main entitlements. It also has to provide assistance to state governments to meet local distribution costs, but on its own terms. The Central Government has wide-ranging powers to make Rules.

The main obligation of state governments is to implement the relevant schemes, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Central Government. State governments also have wide-ranging powers to make Rules. They are free to extend benefits and entitlements beyond what is prescribed in the Bill, from their own resources. Local Authorities and Panchayati Raj Institutions are responsible for proper implementation of the Act in their respective areas, and may be given additional responsibilities by notification.

• Every person belonging to priority households to receive seven kg of food grain every month from the state government under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) at price not exceeding Rs3 per kg for rice, Rs2 for wheat and Re1 for coarse grains.
• General households to get not less than three kg food grain per person per month at subsidised price not exceeding 50 percent of the minimum support price for wheat and coarse grain and not exceed 50 percent of derived minimum support price for rice.
• Entitlement at subsidised price to extend up to 75 percent of rural population and up to 50 percent of the urban population with not less than 46 percent of the rural and 28 percent of the urban population being designated as priority households.
• Every pregnant woman and lactating mother entitled to meal, free of charge, during pregnancy and six months after child birth through the local Anganwadis so as to meet the nutritional standards.
• Children up to age of 14 years entitled to free of charge meal through local Anganwadis and one mid-day meal everyday in all government-aided schools.
• Provide meals through Anganwadis to children who suffer malnutrition.
• Eldest woman, not less than 18 years of age, to be treated as head of family for purpose of issuing ration cards.