NEWS: The Government has proposed amending the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) to revise foodgrain entitlements for Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries.

Key Proposals

• Introduce per-person entitlement of 7 kg of foodgrains per beneficiary per month.
• Retain the maximum cap of 35 kg per household, even for families with more than five members.
• Align foodgrain allocation with Indian Council of Medical Research nutritional guidelines (~7.5 kg cereals/adult/month).

Rationale

• Address inequities caused by the current household-based allocation.
• Ensure fairer distribution based on family size.

About NFSA, 2013

• A rights-based law providing subsidised foodgrains to eligible households.
• Covers 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population (about 81.35 crore people, Census 2011).
• Shifts food security from a welfare scheme to a legal entitlement.

Beneficiary Categories

• AAY: Poorest of the poor households.
• Priority Households (PHH): Other eligible households.

Other Provisions

• Nutritional support for pregnant and lactating women.
• Food for children through Anganwadi Centres (ICDS) and PM POSHAN Scheme.
• Higher nutrition norms for malnourished children.
• Maternity benefit of at least ₹6,000.