Integrated Food Security Scheme: Centre to roll out new integrated food security scheme starting 1 January 2023

Source: The post is based on the article “Centre to roll out new integrated food security scheme starting 1 January 2023” published in PIB on 1st January,2023

What is the News?

The Government of India has rolled out the new integrated food security scheme from January 1, 2023. 

What is the Integrated Food Security Scheme?

Aim: To strengthen the provisions of the National Food Security Act (NFSA),2013 in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of food grains for the poor and the vulnerable.

– To bring uniformity and clarity on food security under NFSA at the beneficiary level.

Key Features of the scheme

Subsumed schemes: The scheme will subsume two current food subsidy schemes of the Department of Food and Public Distribution- a) Food Subsidy to Food Subsidy to Food Corporation of India(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.

Under the scheme, the Government of India will provide free foodgrains to all NFSA beneficiaries i.e. Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY) households & Priority Household(PHH) persons for the next one year through the widespread network of Fair Price Shops across the country. 

– 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.

Funding: Central Government will bear the entire food subsidy of more than Rs. 2 Lakh crore for the year 2023.