UPSC Mains Daily Questions » Daily Answer Writing Challenge-22nd September

Daily Answer Writing Challenge-22nd September

Q1. What is food security? Mentioning the provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013,  describe the challenges in achieving food security. (250 words, 15 Marks) 

Approach: 

  • Introduction: Define food security. 
  • Body: 
    • Explain some provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013. 
    • Highlight the challenges in achieving food security. 
  • Conclusion: Conclude suitably. 

Answer: 

Food security means having, at all times, both physical and economic access to sufficient food to  meet dietary needs for a productive and healthy life. A family is food secure when its members do  not live in hunger or fear of hunger. 

Provisions of the National Food Security Act, 2013 

  • Coverage and entitlement under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Upto 75% of the  rural population and 50% of the urban population will be covered under TPDS, with a uniform  entitlement of 5 kg per person per month. 
  • State-wise coverage: Corresponding to the all-India coverage of 75% and 50% in the rural and  urban areas, State-wise coverage will be determined by the Central Government.  
  • Subsidised prices under TPDS and their revision: Foodgrains under TPDS will be made available  at subsidised prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains for a period of three  years from the date of commencement of the Act. Thereafter prices will be suitably linked to  the Minimum Support Price (MSP). 
  • Identification of Households: Within the coverage under TPDS determined for each State, the  work of identification of eligible households is to be done by States/UTs. 
  • Nutritional Support to women and children: Pregnant women and lactating mothers and children  in the age group of 6 months to 14 years will be entitled to meals as per prescribed nutritional  norms under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) schemes. 
  • Maternity Benefit: Pregnant women and lactating mothers will also be entitled to receive a  maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000. 
  • Women Empowerment: Eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above to be the head  of the household for issuing ration cards. 
  • Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels.  States will have the flexibility to use the existing machinery or set up separate mechanisms. 
  • Transparency and Accountability: Provisions have been made for disclosure of records relating  to PDS, social audits and setting up of Vigilance Committees to ensure transparency and  accountability. 
  • Food Security Allowance: Provision for food security allowance to entitled beneficiaries in case  of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals. 

Challenges in Achieving Food Security: 

  • Implementing measures to improve agricultural productivity and food storage: The government  policy needs to adopt an integrated policy framework to facilitate the increased use of irrigation  and newer farming techniques.  
  • Ensuring food availability and accessibility to below poverty line (BPL) candidates: It is  essential to ensure the availability of food grains to the common people at an affordable price.  
    • This can be done by more accurate targeting the BPL population so that they get food at  substantially low prices. 
  • Improving purchasing power through employment-generating schemes: The government  should come up with more holistic schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment  Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). 
  • Crop diversification, establishing food grain banks and promoting household gardening: Another  area which needs to be explored is ‘crop diversification. Higher profitability and stability in  production highlight the importance of crop diversification, e.g. legumes alternative to rice and  wheat. 
  • Community participation and intersectoral coordination: – Revamping of existing direct nutrition  programmes to enable management by women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) and /or local bodies  along with orientation and training of community health workers, Panchayati Raj Institution  (PRI) members, other opinion leaders, caregivers and other stakeholders can be another area if  addressed, can give positive results.  

Coming to terms with food insecurity, the enemy of food security, is essential to understanding  and promoting it. To ensure sustained food security, India must establish a policy that integrates  disparate issues including inequality, food diversity, indigenous rights, and environmental justice.