Lok Sabha Question No. 3633 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: National Food Security Act
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: ANSHUL VERMA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3633 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  AUGUST, 2017

## NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT

## 3633.   SHRI ANSHUL VERMA:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the  total  population  of  rural  and  urban  areas  covered  under  the National Food Security Act (NFSA);
- (b) whether any mechanism has been put in place to monitor the quality of  food  provided  through  National  Food  Security  Act,  2013  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has urged the States to speed up implementation of the Act in their respective States and if so, the response of the State Governments thereto?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

- (a): The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, at the all India level, for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains and currently 80.55 crore persons are covered under the Act.
- (b): Mechanism adopted for ensuring quality of foodgrains and meals is at Annexure.

(c): The Act is being implemented in all the 36 States/Union Territories.

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF THE UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3633 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 08.08.2017 IN LOK SABHA

## A. Foodgrains under TPDS :

To  ensure  supply  of  good  quality  of  foodgrains    under  TPDS  and  other welfare  schemes,  instructions  are  issued  from  time  to  time  to  State Governments and Food Corporation (FCI) of India to follow the prescribed procedure to issue the foodgrains to State Governments from FCI godowns, which are summarized as follows:

- i. Only good quality of foodgrains free from insect infestation and conforming to Food Safety Standards are to be issued under PDS.
- ii. Ample opportunities are to be provided to the State Government to check the quality of foodgrians prior to lifting the foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- iii. The samples of foodgrains are to be collected and sealed from the stocks of foodgrains to be issued under the PDS jointly by FCI and State Governments/UT Administrations.
- iv. An  officer  not  below  the  rank  of  Inspector  is  to  be  deputed  from  State Government to take delivery of foodgrains stocks from FCI godowns.
- v. Regular inspection to check the quality of foodgrains is to be carried out by the officers of State Government.
- vi. It is the responsibility of the concerned State Governments/UT Administrations to  ensure  that  during  transportation  and  storage  at  different  states  in  the distribution chain, the foodgrains retain the required quality specifications.
- vii. The State Government, where the decentralized procurement is in operation, should  ensure  that  the  quality  of  foodgrains  issued  under  PDS  and  other welfare  schemes  should  meet  the  desired  standards  prescribed  by  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

## B. Supplementary  nutrition  under  Integrated  Child  Development  Services Scheme:

For  preparation  of  meals  and  maintenance  of  its  standards  and  quality,  the Supplementary Nutrition (Under Integrated Child Development Services Scheme) Rules, 2015, notified under NFSA, provide as under:

- i. The  meal  shall  be  prepared  as  per  the  guidelines,  instructions  or  orders issued by the Central Government from time to time (taking into account the orders or 'guidelines issued by the Supreme Court or High Courts), and the provisions of Schedule II of NFSA and any other law for the time being in force.
- ii. The  State  Governments  and  the  Union  Territory  Administrations,  with  the support  of  Food  and  Nutrition  Board  (FNB)  shall  ensure  the  quality  of supplementary nutrition with reference to the norms of food safety, as well as food composition.
- iii. The Supplementary Nutrition shall conform to the standards laid down under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 to ensure consistent quality and nutritive value of the intervention per serving and it shall also be ensured that the meal is prepared in kitchen having adequate sanitation and safe drinking water to maintain hygienic conditions.

- iv. It  shall  be  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned  Programme  Officer  and  the Child  Development  Project  Officer  under  the  ICDS  to  ensure  the  quality  of supplementary provision with reference to the norms of food safety as well as food composition.
- v. FNB,  in  collaboration  with  the  State  Governments  and  the  Union  Territory Administrations,  shall  carry  out  periodic  checks  and  test  the  meal  or  get  it tested  through  the  Government  Food  Research  Laboratory  accredited  or recognized by any law for  the  time  being  in  force,  so  as  to  ensure  that  the meal meets with the nutritional standards and quality specified in Schedule II of NFSA.
- vi. Similarly,  the  officers,  as  authorized  by  the  State  Governments  or  the  Union Territory  Administrations,  shall  also  conduct  surprise  checks  and  draw samples and get them tested through the above laboratories to ensure quality and nutrient value of the meal.
- vii. The  Food  should  be  tasted  by  the  Anganwadi  worker  or  helper  before  it  is served to the beneficiaries at Anganwadi Centre.

C.  Mid  Day  Meal: The  Mid-Day-  Meal  Rules,  2015,  notified  under  NFSA provides the following with regard  to testing of meals  by  accredited Laboratories:

(i)  Hot  cooked  meal  provided  to  children  shall  be  evaluated  and certified  by  the  Government Food Research Laboratory accredited or recognized  by  law,  so  as  to  ensure  that  the  meal  meets  with  the nutritional  standards  and  quality  standards  and  quality  specified  in Schedule II to NFSA. The Food and Drugs Administration Department of the State may collect samples to ensure the nutritive value and quality of the meals.

(ii)  The  Food  and  Drugs  Administration  Department  of  the  State Governments  shall  collect  the  sample  at  least  once  in  a  month  from randomly  selected  schools  or  centralized  kitchen  and  send  such samples for examinations to the laboratories referred to at (i) above.

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