Lok Sabha Question No. 1319 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Achievements of NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Feroze Varun Gandhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINTSTRY OF GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. {319

TO BE AI{SWERED OJ{ 9th February'2021

## AGHIEVEMENTS OF NFSA

## {3{9. SHRI FEROZE VARUT{ GANDHI

Wlll the Minister of  GONSUMER AFFAIRS' FOOD AND PUBLIC

DISTRIBUTIoN 5clfrfiI rrri,  ur<.+ :[t{ Tr&ilfrfi  fufl{uI  d* be pleased to state:

- (a)  the achievements  made by the Government after implementing the ational Food Security Act (NFSA) to end hunger in the country and chatlenges faced in implementation of NFSA;
- (b)  whether any measures are being taken to rectify the problem of percisting hungef/starvation despite overflowing foodgrain stock and make foodgrains  more accessible in the country; and
- (c) if so, the details thereofif

## ANSWER MtNtsTER OF STATE FOR MtiltsTRY OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS' FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(sHRt DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

(a)  to(c): The National  Food Security Act, 20'13 (NFSA) that came into effect from July 5, 2Ol3 aims to provide food and nutritional security  in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate  quantity of quatity food at affordable  prices to people  to live a Iife with dignity. The Act provides for coverage of upto 75o/o ol rural population and upto 5Oo/" of urban population for receiving  highty subsidized  foodgrains under Targeted Public Dlstribution system (TPDS), thus covering about two-thirds  of the total poputation. The Act is operationat in a seamless manner across all states/ Union Territories,  covering about 79.37 crore pensons  across the country.  section 12 of the NFSA provides for reforms in the Targeted Public Distribution system through use of technology to make it more targeted and transparent  and to address the implementation  gaps. Accordinglyt ration cards database has been completely digitized, 9o.7olo ratlon cards have been seeded with Aadhaar and 91.87o of the fair price shops are automated through electronic  poant of sale devices. No State/UT has

2l- reported any difficulty  or challenges  an amplementation of the NFSA' .

To make food more accessible,  Government of lndia in association with all States/Union  Territories has started the implementation  of nation. wide podability of the benefits under the NFSA i.e. the distribution of subsidized foodgrains  to eligible households/  beneficiaries covered under NFSA, ant/where in the country through  "One  Nation One Ration Gard (ONORG)" System by using the same/ existing ration card. At present,  the facility for portability of ration cards under ONORC  System has been seamlessly  enabled in 32 States/Union  Territories covering about 69 Grore beneficiaries (86% of NFSA population)  allowing the beneficiaries to access their NFSA foodgrains/ benefit anywhere in these States/Union  Territories. This initiative  would largely benefit  numerous migratory  beneficiaries such as Iabourers, daily wagers, blue-collar  workerc  etc. who frequently  change their place of dwelling across the country in search of employment or for other reasons. Under ONORG System, part lifting of monthly entitlement  of foodgrains is also feasible at any fair price shop across 32 States/Union Territories.