Food Security

• Food Security implies that all individuals, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
  • Defined by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  • Legally recognized in India under: National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

Key Components of the Definition:

Four Dimensions of Food Security 

Key Government Schemes & Initiatives

National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013

• Provides legal right to food for:
  • 75% of rural population
  • 50% of urban population
• Subsidized rates:
  • ₹3/kg (rice), ₹2/kg (wheat), ₹1/kg (coarse grains)
• Covers:
  • Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) – poorest families
  • Mid-Day Meal Scheme, ICDS, and PDS

Public Distribution System (PDS)

• Operated via Fair Price Shops (FPS)
• Involves procurement (FCI), storage, and subsidized distribution
• Digitized in many states with e-PoS machines

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

• Launched during COVID-19 to provide 5 kg free foodgrain/month.
• Merged into NFSA from January 2023: All NFSA beneficiaries now get foodgrain free of cost.

One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC)

• Enables portability of ration cards across states.
• Critical for migrant workers and urban poor.
• Implemented across all 36 States/UTs (as of Jan 2024).

Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)

• Launched in 2018, targets malnutrition reduction by:
  • Convergence of ministries
  • Use of Jan andolan and technology
• Focus on:
  • Pregnant & lactating women
  • Children under 6
  • Adolescent girls

History & Evolution of PDS

Origins (1960s)

• Emerged from critical food shortages post-independence.
• Focused on urban scarcity areas.
• Expansion during the Green Revolution to tribal and poverty-stricken rural areas.

Revamped PDS (RPDS) – 1992

• Aim: Strengthen reach in remote, hilly, and underdeveloped areas.
• Covered 1775 blocks under poverty alleviation programs.
• Issued foodgrains at 50 paise below the Central Issue Price (CIP).
• Included extra items (pulses, tea, soap, etc.).

Targeted PDS (TPDS) – 1997

• Focused on targeting poor families more effectively.
• Introduced categories: Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL).
• Initially covered 6 crore poor families, based on Planning Commission poverty estimates.
• Increased allocation for BPL from 10 kg to 20 kg, later up to 35 kg/month for certain schemes.

Global & Institutional Support

• FAO: Provides policy support and technical aid
• World Food Programme (WFP): Partners with India for logistics & school meals
• Global Hunger Index (GHI): India ranks low due to high child undernutrition
• Global Food Security Index (GFSI) by EIU: Evaluates food affordability, availability, quality

Challenges to Food Security in India

Way Forward