National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013
- Context: Tamil nadu Chief Minister writes to Prime Minister opposing proposed amendment to Food Security Act
About National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013
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- This marks a paradigm shift in the approach towards food security from a welfare-based approach to a rights-based approach.
- The NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population through the following means:
- Antyodaya Anna Yojana : It covers the poorest population who are entitled to receive 35 kg of food grains per family per month.
- Priority Households (PHH): Families included under the PHH category are entitled to receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month.
- The NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population through the following means:
- In case of issuing ration card, it has been made mandatory for the eldest woman of the family aged 18 years or above to be the head of the household.
- Further, the Act makes special provision for children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years, where they are provided with nutritious food free of cost through a wide network of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres (also known as Anganwadi centres).
