Impact of the National Food Security Act 2013 on PDS leakages.

Source: The post Impact of the National Food Security Act 2013 on PDS leakages has been created, based on the article “The Food Security Act has revamped the PDS” published in “The Hindu” on 6th August 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS paper3-Public Distribution System objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security.

Context: The article discusses how the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India, used for food security, has improved since the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 was implemented. It highlights reduced leakages in food distribution and increased household access to the PDS, despite some ongoing challenges and shortcomings.

For detailed information on National Food Safety Act (NFSA) read this article here

What was the problem with the Public Distribution System (PDS)?

1. The PDS had high levels of food grain leakages.
2. PDS leakages refer to the percentage of grains released by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) that fail to reach the consumers.
3. According to data from 2022-23, leakages have decreased to 22%, compared to 41.7% in 2011-12.

How did the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 impact PDS leakages?

1. The National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 aimed to reduce PDS leakages through reforms implemented across states.
2. Before NFSA, PDS leakages were high at 41.7% in 2011-12, according to NSS data.
3. Reforms like doorstep delivery, digitization, and management of PDS outlets by local bodies led to significant improvements in states like Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
4. For instance, Bihar reduced leakages from 91% in 2004-05 to 24% in 2011-12, while Odisha reduced from 76% to 25%.
5. The NFSA further mandated similar reforms, bringing leakages down to 22% in 2022-23.

What role did Aadhaar play in reducing leakages?

1. Aadhaar-based biometric authentication (ABBA) was introduced to reduce leakages in the Public Distribution System (PDS).
2. However, studies suggest Aadhaar did not significantly impact PDS leakages. In Jharkhand, before ABBA, leakages were already less than 20%. In some states like Tamil Nadu, leakages increased despite Aadhaar integration, from 12% in 2011-12 to 25% in 2022-23.
3. Surveys in 2017 found no major difference in entitlement purchase ratios between offline villages (94%) and ABBA villages (93%).
4. Little evidence of “ghost cards” was found in these surveys.
5. Thus, Aadhaar did not play a major role in reducing leakages, as PDS reforms had already reduced them before its implementation.

What Are the Current Challenges and Recommendations?

1. Current Challenges
2. Rising PDS leakages in some states: In some states where PDS worked better traditionally, leakages have increased. For example, Tamil Nadu’s leakages rose from 12% in 2011-12 to 25% in 2022-23.
3. Incomplete NFSA coverage: The NFSA mandates 66% coverage, but only 59% of the population has access to PDS. In 2022-23, 70% of households accessed PDS, but 10% are non-NFSA beneficiaries.
4. Disruptive technological interventions: Aadhaar-based biometric authentication (ABBA) has not shown significant benefits in reducing leakages
5. Recommendations
6. Census completion: Expedite the delayed Census to prevent the exclusion of over 100 million people.
7. Enhance food diversity: Include more nutritious items like pulses and edible oils in PDS.
8. Avoid disruptive reforms: Instead of focusing on new technologies like eKYC, efforts should be focused on strengthening the existing system.

Question for practice:

Examine the impact of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 on reducing Public Distribution System (PDS) leakages in India.