The New Integrated Scheme

In News: The Centre will provide foodgrains to states under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) free for one year from today.

The New Integrated Scheme:

Aim:

• Government of India has social & legal commitment to the people of the nation- a dignified life by ensuring them access to food and nutritional security through availability of adequate quantity of quality foodgrains.
• Bringing uniformity and clarity on food security under NFSA at beneficiary level.
• To fulfil the vision of One Nation – One Price – One Ration

About the scheme:

• It is to begin on 1 January 2023 for a period of 1 year.
• It would provide free food grains to 81.35 crore beneficiaries under NFSA including Antyodaya Ann Yojana households and Priority Household persons.
• The new integrated scheme will subsume two current food subsidy schemes of the Department of Food and Public Distribution- a) Food Subsidy to FCI for NFSA, and b) Food Subsidy for decentralized procurement states, dealing with procurement, allocation and delivery of free foodgrains to the states under NFSA.
• Free foodgrains will concurrently ensure uniform implementation of portability under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) across the country and will further strengthen this choice-based platform.
• Central Government will bear the food subsidy of more than Rs. 2 Lakh crore for the year 2023.
• The foodgrains will be provided through the widespread network of over five lakhs Fair Price Shops across the country.

Significance:

• The Scheme would ensure effective and uniform implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA).

• This will strengthen the provisions of NFSA, in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of foodgrains for the poor.

Must Read: NFSA

Must Read: One nation one ration card

Source: News on air

Previous Year Question

Q1.) With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements: (2018)

1. The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 3 only