Question : FOOD SECURITY

(a) whether any apprehensions have been raised about the successful implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in view of the present level of agricultural productivity/ production and procurement of foodgrains;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the remedial steps taken in this regard;

(c) whether the Government has received any suggestions to follow the pattern of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for deciding the entitlements under NFSA;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(e) the steps taken for successful and effective imple- mentation of the Act?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE)

(a) & (b): Various aspects of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), including requirement of foodgrains/ funds for implementation of the Act have been discussed in different forums and suggestions have been made. At the current levels of production and procurement of foodgrains, the requirements under NFSA are likely to be met adequately.

(c) & (d): The entitlements under NFSA are different from the entitlements under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Emp- loyment Guarantee Scheme. The coverage and entitlements prescribed in the NFSA are keeping in view the recent trends in production and procurement of foodgrains.

(e): In order to ensure proper implementation of the Act, stress is on proper identification of beneficiaries through a transparent and participative process, delivery of foodgrains by designated State agencies upto the door-steps of fair price shops, availability of adequate scientific storage facilities at various levels, end-to-end compute- risation of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) operations and setting up of effective grievance redressal mechanism, among others.