AN INADEQUATE NATIONAL
FOOD SECURITY BILL 2011
Problem 1
LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF
NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY
Nutrition Security means
Access to adequate quantities of carbohydrates,
proteins, fats, micronutrients through availability
and affordability of diverse foods including grains,
pulses, oil, meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruits
to meet the requirement for a person according to
the stage in her/his life cycle.
Access to safe drinking water as a public good.
Access to food depends on
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Control over land , water, forest
Just wages, full safe employment, social security
State policies that support food production
A system that supports people, not corporates
An Act is only one small part of all that
is needed
The Government’s understanding
of “Food Security” is limited to
making a limited amount of
subsidised grain and some
cooked food available to the
poorest. There are no elements
of change for equity in food
production and income
distribution.
PROBLEM 2
TARGETING AND BPL WITH ALL ITS
PROBLEMS REMAINS
Preventing Exclusion
It is only the universal principle that will allow
Dalits, Tribals and the Socially vulnerable
to exercise their right to food
These are the majority communities who are excluded
when targeting happens
Total monthly requirements for a five member
family – ICMR norms
Family member
Man doing
moderate work
Woman doing
moderate work.
1-6 year old child
7 to 12 year old
child
Elderly person /
third child
Total
Monthly
requirement of
cereals (kg.)
Monthly
requirement of
pulses (kg.)
14.4
Monthly
requirement
of oils
(grams)
2.7
1050
10.8
2.25
900
5
1.1
675
9
1.8
750
9
1.8
675
48.2
9.65
4050
Requirement is therefore
A Universal Public Distribution System
Remove APL BPL– subsidised food for all
Nutritional security with per head monthly
entitlements of at least14 kgs of cereals, 1.5
kgs of pulses and 800 gms of oil
But what does the Government draft
say?
– Every person belonging to priority &general household
to receive food grains at prescribed rates and
quantities
– No pulses or oil
– Proposed as follows
Priority group
General group
Food
Entitlement
Seven Kg. of food grains (rice,
wheat or nutritional cereals) per
person/month
Three Kg. of food grain/
person/month
Price
Not exceeding 3/2/1/ per Kg.
Not exceeding 50 % of
MSP.
Central Government has powers to
• Amend or modify schedule of rates and quantities
• Decide on number of families in the priority households, based on statewise poverty ratio and on the additional number of persons belonging to
the general household ,in such a manner that in each state the combined
coverage under the TPDS belonging to priority and general household are
75% and 50% of the rural and urban population, respectively.
• Prescribe the guidelines for identification of priority and general
household.
• Within the state, identification of priority and general household shall be
done by State Govt. (Provided that no household meeting the exclusion
criteria prescribed by the central government is included either in the
priority or the general households.)
Thus
• BPL and targeting with all its problems remains
• Central Government meets only partial
requirements of cereals and does not at all touch on
pulses and oils
• Central Government has the power to reduce
amounts , population covered , change rates
PROBLEM 3
LIP SERVICE TO PROBLEMS OF
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION
Food Security in a Vacuum
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NFS Bill provides food security without considering
production aspects – as if food procurement and
food distribution can be divorced from production
In actuality, production, procurement, storage and
distribution have to be considered together
Possible to Use An Expanded PDS To
Revive Agriculture
There is a severe agricultural crisis in the
country. Procurement for an expanded PDS
will give a boost to production and can
become an important instrument for the
revitalization of the agricultural economy.
We had suggested expanded PDS
Along With New Procurement Policy
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Procurement from all mandis, so that all areas benefit from
govt. procurement (not just major procurement from Punjab,
Haryana, AP and partially UP, as is now the case)
Procurement at MSP of millets, pulses and oilseeds etc to
boost these crops which are now facing neglect due to low
and uncertain prices and due to low investment.
These crops are easily grown in dry-land areas and are not
water/input intensive.
Procurement should be at fair MSP prices.
Local Distribution Of Local
Procurement
Distribution of grain procured from beyond the district zone should be
resorted to only if there is a shortfall in local procurement. This will
allow:
 Procurement, and therefore support to farmers, from all areas .
 Locally preferred grain to be distributed
 Drastically cut down storage and transportation costs
 Help curb corruption by allowing easier tracking of grain
movements
However, since many areas suffer from deficits, it is important to ensure
that the original intention of the PDS ie : movement of food from
surplus to deficit areas will be ensured by Central govt agencies.
Village level grain banks to be established to encourage local
procurement, storage and distribution to ensure food security
Policies to increase food production,
consumption, nutrition
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Immediate ban on export of food until malnutrition is ended in the country.
Protect farmers from “dumping” of unfairly subsidized imports.
First call on all natural resources, including land and water, must be for
food. No forcible diversion of land, water and forest resources away from
food production.
Stop corporatization of agriculture and control of food by agribusiness
corporations.
Immediate moratorium on genetically modified (GM) seeds, GM food
imports, and use of GM food in government food schemes.
All speculation and futures trading in food items should be banned.
Government must eliminate the entry of corporate interests (including
contract farming) and private contractors in food production, the food
market, regulatory bodies and nutrition-related schemes.
Governments must not enter into any partnerships with the private sector
where there is a conflict of interests.
Government must ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation for
all.
The NFS Bill says Central, State and
local Governments shall strive to
(1) Revitalise Agri.
a. agrarian reforms securing interest of small and marginal farmers
b. increase in investments; R&D; extension services
c. ensuring remunerative prices; credit; irrigation
d. prohibiting unwarranted diversion of land
(2) Procurement; Storage and Movement
a. incentivize the decentralize procurement
b. geographical diversification of operations
c. scientific storage
d. priority of movements of food grains- sufficient rakes/ expanding railway
line
STRIVE TO amounts to good intentions with no surety
on action
PROBLEM 4
CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO FOOD IS
INSECURE
For Infants’ Right to Food
Infants need
- Initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth
- Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months
Nutrition Security for Infants includes
- Skilled assistance and counselling for infant and young
child feeding
- Financial and nutritional assistance to the mother for six
months after birth
- Creches in the community and at the work site
For Children’s Right to Food
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Program of feeding in ICDS centres and schools
from birth till Class X.
Minimum nutrition norms specified in the Act
Cooked hot meal
Proper infrastructure- buildings, drinking water,
toilets, equipment
Adequate staff
Health check ups in schools and ICDS centers
No use of contractors
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Provision for inflation
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Universalise ICDS
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All children in the age group of 0-6 years entitled
to basic nutrition, health and pre-school education
services including supplementary nutrition;
immunization; health check-ups; referral services;
growth monitoring and promotion; pre-school
education; counselling of mothers for infant and
young child feeding
Support and counselling for Breastfeeding
No promotion of baby foods
Weekly Take-home rations
Identification and treatment of acute malnutrition
The NFS Bill gives limited services
•Every pregnant women and
lactating mother through
anganwadi will be entitled to free
cooked meal during pregnancy and
six months after the child’s birth.
•Children in the age group 0-6
years age shall get appropriate
cooked meal ,free of charge,
through the local anganwadi or any
other prescribed institution.
•Children in the age group of 614 years :one cooked mid day
meal ,free of charge, except on
school holidays ,in all schools run
by local bodies, Govt. and Govt.
aided schools, up to class VIII.
•Every school shall have
appropriate facilities for cooking
and drinking water.
•The State Govt. through the local
anganwadi , shall identify
children who suffer from
malnutrition ,and provide cooked
meals.
No Guard Against Inflation, No Guarantee
of Funding by Central Government
• Entitlements under section 4,5&6 shall be
realised through specific schemes, which will be
implemented by the State Govt in
accordance with the guidelines ,including for
cost sharing between centre and state
according to Central Govt.
PROBLEM 5
SERVICES AND DEFINITION FOR
VULNERABLE INADEQUATE
Rights of the Vulnerable and Socially
Excluded
The Act must recognise the rights of the most vulnerable.
These include old people, physically challenged , people
suffering from/living with HIV/AIDS , TB or other
debilitating and stigmatized diseases, single women
headed households, beggars, bonded labourers, primitive
tribes, most marginalised groups, homeless, unprotected
street and working children etc.
All such people to be provided Antodaya cards.
Antodaya Card Holders
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All Antodaya card holders to get rations at half price
Hot cooked meals for old and infirm
Double food quotas in ICDS and maternity benefits
Old age pensions of Rs. 1300 p.m. (inflation indexed)
Supply of one quintal of food per month free of cost
for six months (after distress is discovered)
Other special programs like community kitchens or
residential schools for street children
Other Special Categories
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Migrants, urban homeless and slum dwellers to be
categories for whom special measures to be taken up
Disaster struck to be given Antodaya cards and
double entitlements immediately
Pensions of Rs.1300 for elderly, single women and
disabled
Maternity benefits of Rs 1,000 per month for six
months, along with crèches
The NFS Bill says
All destitute persons shall be entitled to at least one cooked meal everyday free of charge in
accordance to scheme prescribed by the Central Govt.
’Destitute person’ means one who lacks resources for dignified living.
All homeless and poor ,casual workers& migrant labourers shall be entitled to cooked meals at
community kitchens according to schemes prescribed by Central Govt.
In the case of emergency disaster the State Govt. shall provide free two cooked meals to the
affected household or provide them ration free of charge ,for a period up to three months
after disaster.
The State Govt. will identify persons, households ,groups living in starvation or conditions akin to
starvation and shall provide
(1)Free Cooked meals two times a day ,for 6 months from date of identification.
(2)any other relief deemed necessary by the State Govt.
The Government shall strive for pensions
No maternity benefits.
For vulnerable, categories covered and benefits given are much less than what we asked for.
Specially pensions shall only be STRIVED FOR
No Maternity benefits
PROBLEM 6
CASH TRANSFERS ARE BEING
INTRODUCED
The NFS Bill says
• “Reforms in TPDS” which includes
introducing scheme of cash transfer in lieu of
entitlements under the Act.
• In case of shortage of supply, Central Govt. shall
provide funds for state Govt. to meeting obligations
under the Act.
Positive: Cards for Women
NFSB has agreed to this
Women of eighteen years or above to
be head of household for purpose of
distribution of ration cards
PROBLEM 7
REFORMS IN PDS ARE ONLY TO BE
“STRIVED FOR”
Issues of Corruption and Leakages
Some of the reforms in PDS required
•door step delivery with removal of wholesalers
•de-privatisation of all ration shops
•Computerisation for transparency
•Strong community vigilance
NFS Bill: Governments shall strive for
Reforms in TPDS in consonance with functional role
a. doorstep delivery
b. computerization to ensure transparent recording of
transactions
c. leveraging ‘aadhaar’ for unique identification
d. full transparency
e. preference to public institutions; cooperatives etc. in
licensing FPS by women or women’s collectives
f. support to local distribution models
The NFS Bill says
For efficient operations under TPDS, State Government to :
a. create/maintain scientific storage at State/District/Block Level
b. strengthen capacities of food and civil supplies corporations
c. institutionalise licensing arrangements for Fair Price Shops (FSPs) under PDS Control
Order, 2001
All TPDS records be placed under public domain.
All PRIs/ULBs authorized by State Gov. to conduct regular social audits
Set up Vigilance Committees as prescribed under the PDS Control Order, 2001 at the
State, District, Block and FPS
Vigilance Committee shall perform:
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a. regularly supervise
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b. inform District Grievance Redressal Officer for violations
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c. inform District Grievance Redressal of any mal practice or misappropriation
EXPERIENCE WITH NREGS AND EXISTING VIGILANCE DOES NOT SHOW
MUCH HOPE
PROBLEM 8
INADEQUATE PROVISIONS TO PUNISH
PENALISE OR COMPENSATE
The NFS Bill says
• In case of failure to supply the entitled persons,
they will be entitled to receive food security
allowance from the State Govt. in a manner
prescribed by the Central Govt.
• Any public servant/authority found guilty of failing
to comply with the relief recommended by District
Grievance Redressal Officer shall be liable to
penalty not exceeding five thousand rupees
INADEQUATE AFTER OUR EXPERIENCE WITH NREGA
The NFS Bill says
• A District grievance officer (GRO), shall be appointed
in each district, to enforce various entitlement under this
act and, investigate and redress grievance.
• State and National Food Commissions to be set up
POWERS TO PUNISH AND ENFORCE ARE NOT THERE
NOTHING ON HOW TO PREVENT POLITICAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERFERENCE IN APPOINTMENT
AND FUNDING OF GRO AND COMMISSIONS