Question : Implementation of NFSA

(a) the present status of implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA);
(b) whether the Government has further extended the deadline for implementation of NFSA on the request of some States;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor indicating the names of the States where the scheme is yet to be implemented along with the quantum of foodgrains and funds allocated under the scheme during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;
(d) the total coverage of NFSA along with the number of beneficiaries identified, issued cards and those having bank accounts; and
(e) the monitoring mechanism put in place to check diversion of funds and foodgrains to ensure effective implementation of the Act?

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a): 24 States/Union Territories (UTs) are presently implementing the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) and foodgrains under the Act are being allocated to them based on the preparedness and identification of beneficiaries reported by them.
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(b): No, Madam.
(c): 12 States/ UTs viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, have not completed the preparatory measures required for implementation of NFSA and foodgrains allocation under erstwhile Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is continuing there. State-wise details of foodgrains allocated under NFSA to the 24 States/UTs implementing the Act, during the years 2013-14, 2014-15 and current year (2015-16) are at Annexure. Expenditure on subsidy involved in allocation of foodgrains under NFSA as well as erstwhile TPDS is met out of budgetary allocation for food subsidy. The expenditure on food subsidy during the last two years and current year is as follows:
Year
Expenditure (Rs. in crore)
2013-14
89,740.02
2014-15
1,13,171.16
2015-16 (as on 10.12.2015)
1,03,916.68
(d): Total coverage in the country for receiving foodgrains at subsidized prices under NFSA is about 81.35 crore persons. The entitlement under the Act is on per person basis for persons belonging to priority households and on household basis for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households. In the 24 States/UTs implementing NFSA, about 1.46 crore AAY households and 43.95 crore persons belonging to priority households are reported identified and covered under the Act. Details of bank accounts of beneficiaries are not required for distribution of foodgrains to them under the Act. Presently, UTs of Chandigarh and Puducherry are implementing NFSA in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode where funds are being transferred in the beneficiaries’ bank accounts directly. About 1.93 lakh ration cards have linked bank accounts in these two UTs.
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(e): NFSA contains provisions for setting up of Grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels viz., District Grievance Redressal Officer for each District for expeditious and effective redressal of grievances and to enforce the entitlements under the Act and State Food Commission for monitoring and review of implementation of the Act. Main responsibility for implementation of the Act, which inter alia includes identification of eligible households, issuing ration cards to them, distribution of foodgrains’ entitlements to eligible households through fair price shops, setting up effective grievance redressal mechanism, necessary strengthening of TPDS, rests with State/UT Governments.
A Nine Point Action Plan for curbing the leakages/diversion of foodgrains under TPDS was evolved in July, 2006 in consultation with the State/UT Governments for implementation by all States/UTs. Further, for maintaining supplies and securing availability and distribution of essential commodities, under PDS, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the Department has notified the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001 on 31.08.2001. In order to bring the PDS (Control) Order, 2001 in consonance with NFSA, TPDS (Control) Order, 2015 has been notified on 20.03.2015.
In a continuous endeavour to strengthen and streamline TPDS, the Government has initiated implementation of a plan scheme on ‘End-to-end Computerisation of TPDS Operations’ during the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) to ensure transparency and check leakages in the TPDS. To curb leakages further, under the NFSA inter alia, States/UTs have been asked to either do cash transfer of food subsidy under DBT or install electronic Point of Sale Device (ePoS) at the Fair Price Shops (FPSs).
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ANNEXURE
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2662 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 15.12.2015 IN THE LOK SABHA
ALLOCATION OF FOODGRAINS UNDER NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT, 2013
S. No.
STATE/UT
FOODGRAINS ALLOCATED (IN THOUSAND TONS)
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16*
1
BIHAR
409.58
4914.90
5241.27
2
CHHATTISGARH
322.72
1337.47
1384.06
3
DELHI
255.43
370.41
424.79
4
HARYANA
317.50
795.00
795.00
5
HIMACHAL PRADESH
254.00
508.00
508.00
6
KARNATAKA
619.09
2542.66
2608.84
7
MADHYA PRADESH
234.54
3196.00
3362.68
8
MAHARASHTRA
750.27
4527.50
4605.19
9
PUNJAB
229.06
870.12
870.12
10
RAJASTHAN
1395.79
2791.57
2791.57
11
CHANDIGARH
5.20
31.21
13.01
12
ANDHRA PRADESH
-
-
623.95
13
ASSAM
-
-
554.02
14
GOA
-
-
19.67
15
JHARKHAND
-
-
780.82
16
ODISHA
-
-
688.68
17
TELANGANA
-
-
669.00
18
TRIPURA
-
-
158.08
19
UTTARAKHAND
-
-
251.50
20
WEST BENGAL
-
-
813.44
21
DAMAN & DIU
-
-
2.49
22
LAKSHADWEEP
-
-
3.08
23
PUDDUCHERRY
-
-
-
24
SIKKIM
-
-
0.11
Total
4793.17
21884.83
27180.34
* Estimated as per current monthly allocation of foodgrains
Note: Chandigarh and Puducherry are implementing NFSA in Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode w.e.f. September, 2015.
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