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In Context
- Recently, the Supreme Court has directed the Centre to increase coverage under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
More about the news
- Supreme Court’s direction:
- The apex court directed the Centre to re-determine coverage under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) so that “more and more needy persons and citizens get the benefit”.
- Supreme Court also noted that “Right to Food is a fundamental right available under Article 21 of the Constitution”.
- eShram portal:
- In the order, the court also directed States which were not able to register unorganised workers, including migrant labourers, in the eShram portal to do so within six weeks.
- Government’s response:
- The central government submitted that it has enabled the facility of ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ in all the States/Union Territories covering about 80-crore NFSA beneficiaries.
Government’s recent efforts to increase coverage under National Food Security Act (NFSA):
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Issues:
- Population figures and census:
- The coverage under the NFSA is still as per the population figures of 2011 census.
- The Union, in its affidavit, had stated in court that the Act required coverage to be updated as per the latest published census figures.
- However, the NFSA coverage cannot be determined as the 2021 census has been postponed indefinitely and no date has been notified.
- Due to the absence of the latest population figures, over 10 crore people were left outside the food security law’s protective umbrella without even ration cards.
- Under-registration of existing portals:
- The Union Labour Ministry has developed a National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) portal and the eShram portal for registration of labourers spread over 400 occupations including in constructions, agriculture, fishing, dairy, self-employed and even ASHA and anganwadi workers.
- However, many States have achieved less than 50% registration.
- The court noted that Maharashtra has achieved only 36.97% of its workers, Tamil Nadu only 34.84%, Telangana only 34.90%, Gujarat merely 48.40% and Karnataka barely above 36%.
What is Food security?
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013
Ration Card
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Source: TH
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