Free Foodgrains Scheme

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Why in News?

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.

What are Coarse Cereals?

• 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

What is NFSA?

• Notified On:
  • 10^thSeptember, 2013.
• 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 forreceiving 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 theAntyodaya 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 securityallowance to beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled foodgrains or meals.
  • Setting up grievance redressal mechanismsat the district and state level.

What are Government Initiatives in this Regard?

• National Food Security Mission
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)
• Integrated Schemes on Oilseeds, Pulses, Palm oil and Maize (ISOPOM)
• eNAM Portal

Questions For Practice

1. Hunger and Poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement.(UPSC 2017)
2. What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make the food grain distribution system more effective?(UPSC 2019)
3. What are the major challenges of Public Distribution System (PDS) in India? How can it be made effective and transparent?(UPSC 2022)