The above act comes under the Ministry of Law and Justice [Legislative dept.].
It extends to the whole of India and is deemed to have come into force on 5th day of July, 2013. The Food Security Ordinance was repealed and on 10th September 2013 it received the President of India’s assent whereby it became the National Food Security Act.
Features:
The Act ensures 5 kg of ration per person with a maximum of up to 35 kg per household.
In states where ration is not provided, a food security allowance to be provided by the state government.
The Anganwadi’s are to supply free nutritional food for pregnant and lactating mother and allowance of Rs 6000 per month for 6 months.
Children between 6 to 14 years of age or up to VIII standard to receive the nutritional food free.
The free and nutritional food to be provided to malnourished children which shall be identified by the state.
The reforms in the act are door step delivery and application of ICT (Information Communication and Technology) for computerization and transaction and leverage Aadhar. Women of 18 years and above to be head of house hold for purpose of issue of ration cards.
Role of State Government:
State Government is to identify the priority households and implement the scheme. It has to prepare the list and display the same on it website within 365 days of Act in force.
There has to be grievance redressal mechanism in every district with an officer to be provided and looked after by the state.
State Food Commission (SFC) has to be constituted with a chairperson and 5 other members and a member secretary. The period has to be 5 years and the member can be reappointed provided the age limit of 65 is not reached. The Commission should consist of at least two women, and one member each from SC and ST community. State can designate any other body to act as SFC. Two or more states can have joint SFC.
There are four schedules in this Act:
Schedule I deals with subsidized prices.
Schedule II deals with nutritional standards.
Schedule III deals with provisions for advancing food security.
Schedule IV deals with state wise allocation of food grains.
