Why in the News
An analysis warns that a proposed amendment to the National Food Security Act, 2013 could hurt the poorest households by converting a fixed household ration into a per capita entitlement. The tension is between per capita fairness on paper and the real needs of small, elderly, and vulnerable households.
What is the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)?
- Targeting: AAY covers the poorest of the poor households under the food security system.
- Entitlement: Each AAY household currently receives 35 kg of foodgrain per month, regardless of size.
What does the proposed amendment change?
- Per capita shift: The household entitlement would be replaced by a per capita quota of about 7 kg per person.
- Small household hit: A one or two member household would receive far less than the current 35 kg.
Who is most exposed to the change?
- Elderly and widows: Single member and elderly headed households lose the most.
- Vulnerable groups: Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and small families face sharp cuts.
What principle is at stake?
- Adequacy over arithmetic: A per head formula ignores that small poor households have high fixed food needs.
Conclusion
The central idea is that a per capita rule can look equal yet strip protection from the smallest households. Whether the amendment proceeds, and with what safeguard for small households, remains open.
Matching Previous Year Question
“[2021, GS3, 15 marks] What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?”