In order to eradicate the problem of hunger and to provide food security to the vulnerable population, the Government has been providing food grains at highly subsidized prices to the targeted population through State Governments/Union Territory Administrations under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) such as Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, Annapurna Scheme etc. This information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister said that during the current year 2014-15, the Govt. of India has so far allocated 614.53 lakh tons of foodgrains under TPDS and OWS. This includes allocation of 483.70 lakh tons under TPDS, 66.45 lakh tons additional APL and BPL allocation, 12.04 lakh tons for natural calamities, additional TPDS requirements etc., and allocation of 52.34 lakh tons of foodgrains under OWS.
He said that to further strengthen the efforts to address the food security of the people, Government of India has notified the National Food Security Act, 2013 on 10th September, 2013. The act provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains at subsidized prices of Rs.3,2 & 1 per Kg for rice, wheat & coarse grains respectively under Targeted Public Distribution System(TPDS), thus covering about two-third of the population.
[ Shri Paswan said that the Act also has a special focus on nutritional support to women and children, pregnant women and lactating mothers will be entitled to meals as nutritional norms as well as to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000. Children upto 14 years of age will be entitled to nutritious meals or take home rations as per the prescribed nutritional standards. In case of non supply of entitled foodgrains or meals, the beneficiaries will received food security allowance.
He said that the coverage and entitlements prescribed in the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) are keeping in view the recent trends in production and procurement of foodgrains. The annual requirement of foodgrains for implementation of Act is estimated at 614.4 lakh tons, which is likely to be met adequately at the current levels of production and procurement of foodgrains.
The Minister said that during the current year 2014-15, the Govt. of India has so far allocated 614.53 lakh tons of foodgrains under TPDS and OWS. This includes allocation of 483.70 lakh tons under TPDS, 66.45 lakh tons additional APL and BPL allocation, 12.04 lakh tons for natural calamities, additional TPDS requirements etc., and allocation of 52.34 lakh tons of foodgrains under OWS.
He said that to further strengthen the efforts to address the food security of the people, Government of India has notified the National Food Security Act, 2013 on 10th September, 2013. The act provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains at subsidized prices of Rs.3,2 & 1 per Kg for rice, wheat & coarse grains respectively under Targeted Public Distribution System(TPDS), thus covering about two-third of the population.
[ Shri Paswan said that the Act also has a special focus on nutritional support to women and children, pregnant women and lactating mothers will be entitled to meals as nutritional norms as well as to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000. Children upto 14 years of age will be entitled to nutritious meals or take home rations as per the prescribed nutritional standards. In case of non supply of entitled foodgrains or meals, the beneficiaries will received food security allowance.
He said that the coverage and entitlements prescribed in the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) are keeping in view the recent trends in production and procurement of foodgrains. The annual requirement of foodgrains for implementation of Act is estimated at 614.4 lakh tons, which is likely to be met adequately at the current levels of production and procurement of foodgrains.
