National Food Security Act, 2013

The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 came into force in the country from 5th July, 2013 to provide food and nutritional security to the citizens by assuring availability of adequate quantity of quality foodgrains at affordable prices. It is being implemented in the State since 1st February, 2014. As per the said Act, about 62.3 per cent (rural 76.32 per cent and urban 45.34 per cent) population of the state is entitled to receive subsidized foodgrains. Accordingly, Govt. of India has given a target of 700.17 Lacs beneficiaries which includes 25,05,300 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families and 5.92 crores Priority Households beneficiaries (PHH). The criteria for the identification of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families have been prescribed vide Government Resolution dated 17.7.2013. Below Poverty Line (BPL) households other than AAY and Above Poverty Line (APL) saffron card holders having annual family income upto ₹ 44,000/- in rural areas & upto ₹59,000/- in urban areas are included in PHH vide Government Resolution dated 17.12.2013. AAY households are entitled to receive 35 kg of foodgrains per ration card per month and PHH are entitled to receive five kg of foodgrains per person per month. The said food grains are distributed at the rate of ₹3/- per kg for rice, ₹2/- per kg for wheat and ₹1/- per kg for coarse grain. As per Government of India Notification dated 04.12.2023 the said foodgrains shall be provided free of cost for the period of 1 st of January, 2024 to next five years. (i.e. Dt.31 st December, 2028)

Considering 700.17 lakh beneficiaries, Government of India vide their letter dated 28.02.2023 & 01.06.2023 has allocated 3,83,766 M.T. of foodgrains (2,45,610 M.T. of Rice & 1,38,156 M.T. of Wheat) for the period from April, 2023 to December, 2023. District wise allocation for the said period has been issued accordingly.

To include the proper and needy peoples as beneficiaries under NFSA, revised district wise target of beneficiaries has been issued vide G.R. dated 18.02.2022. The said revision is done on the basis of the number of Antyodaya Anna Yojana ration cards and priority family beneficiaries, which were digitized and registered on the Ration Card Management System (RCMS).