Seventy Five Percent of the Rural and Fifty Percent of the Urban Population will be benefited from Food Security Law

The Government has promulgated the National Food Security Ordinance (NFSO), 2013 on 5.7.2013 to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach. As per the Ordinance 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, at the all India level, will be entitled to receive 5 kg of subsidised foodgrains per person per month under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The existing Antyodaya Anna Yojana  households will however continue to receive 35 kgs of foodgrains per household per month. This information was given by the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prof. K.V. Thomas in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Prof. Thomas said that corresponding to the above, the State-wise coverage will be determined by the Central Government. Accordingly, based on National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) Consumption Expenditure Survey data for 2011-12, the Planning Commission has estimated the State-wise percentage coverage is as follows:

Minister said that as regards identification, the Ordinance provides that within the coverage under TPDS determined for each State, the identification of households is to be done by State Governments in accordance with guidelines to be prescribed by them.