Lok Sabha Question No. 249 (STARRED), answered on 2016-03-15
Subject: Implementation of NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, SUDHEER GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 249

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15 th  MARCH, 2016

## IMPLEMENTATION OF NFSA

*249. DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

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 number of States that have implemented the Food Security Act so  far  among  with  the  reasons  for  nonimplenetation  of  the  Act  in  the remaining States;
- (b) the total population of rural and urban areas that are covered under the Food Security Act;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  urged  the  States  to  speed  up implementation of the Food Security Act in their respective States and if so, the response of the respective State Governments thereto; and
- (d) whether  the Government  proposes  to  give  payment  of  Food Security  Allowance  to  the  beneficiaries  in  case  of  non-delivery  of foodgrains to them and if so, the time by which the decision is likely to be taken by the Government in this regard?

A N S W E R

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 249  DUE FOR ANSWER ON 15.03.2016 IN THE LOK SABHA

- (a):   The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) is being implemented in 30 States/UTs, and based on the preparedness and identification of beneficiaries reported by them, foodgrains under the Act are being allocated to them. Order for allocation of foodgrains to Gujarat under NFSA w.e.f. April, 2016 has also been issued.

Before  implementation of the Act, States/UTs are required to identify eligible  households  and  complete  other  preparatory  activities.    Remaining  5 States are at an advanced stage of preparedness. Foodgrains allocation under erstwhile Targeted Public Distribution System is continuing in these States.

- (b): The Act provides for coverage of upto 75% and 50% of the rural and urban population  respectively  for  receiving  highly  subsidized  foodgrains.  The  Act further  provides that  total  number  of  persons  to  be  covered  shall  be calculated on the basis of the population estimate as per the Census of which the relevant figures have been published. Accordingly, using the Census, 2011 population, total coverage under the Act is 81.35 crore persons, comprising of 62.49 crore persons in rural areas and 18.86 crore persons in urban areas.
- (c):  The  Central  Government  is  constantly  pursuing  with  the  States/UTs  for early implementation of the Act. This inter-alia includes regular meetings with Food Ministers and Food Secretaries of the States/UTs, which has resulted in 30 States/UTs implementing NFSA.
- (d): Section  8  of  NFSA  provides  that  in  case  of  non-supply  of  the  entitled quantities of foodgrains to entitled persons, such persons shall be entitled to receive such food security allowance from the concerned State Government, within such time and manner as may  be prescribed by the Central Government.      Government  of  India  has  already  notified  Food  Security Allowance Rule, 2015 on 21.01.2015 in this regard.

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