Q. Why is this in News?
A.
Recently, the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution issued a notification to provide free foodgrains (rice, wheat and coarse grains) to all eligible households under the National Food Security Act, 2013, for one year from January 1, 2023.
- The government, however, discontinued the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
Q. What are Coarse Cereals?
A.
- Coarse cereals are traditionally grown in resource-poor agro-climatic regions of the country.
- Agro-climatic zone is a land unit in terms of major climates suitable for a certain range of crops and cultivars.
- Sorghum, pearl millet, maize, barley, finger millet and several small millets such as kodo millet, little millet, foxtail millet, proso millet and barnyard millet together called coarse cereals.
- Sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, maize and small millet (barnyard millet, proso millet, kodo millet and foxtail millet) are also called nutri-cereals.
- Coarse cereals are known for their nutri-rich content and having characteristics like drought tolerance, photo-insensitivity and resilient to climate change etc.
Q. What is NFSA?
A.
- Notified On:
- Objective:
- To provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantities of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity.
- Coverage:
- 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving subsidised foodgrains under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
- Overall, NFSA covers about 81.35 crore citizens.
- Eligibility:
- Priority Households are to be covered under TPDS, according to guidelines by the State government.
- Households are covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana.
- Provisions:
- 5 Kgs of foodgrains per person per month at Rs. 3/2/1 per Kg for rice/wheat/coarse grains.
- The existing AAY household will continue to receive 35 Kgs of foodgrains per household per month.
- Meal and maternity benefits of not less than Rs. 6,000 to pregnant women and lactating mothers during pregnancy and six months after child birth.
- Meals for children upto 14 years of age.
- Food security allowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
- Setting up grievance redressal mechanisms at the district and state level.
Q. What are Government Initiatives in this Regard?
A.
- National Food Security Mission
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
- Integrated Schemes on Oilseeds, Pulses, Palm oil and Maize (ISOPOM)
- eNAM Portal