Food Security
Himachal is one of the most dynamic hill states of India with significantly high indicators of human development. Its natural resources and physiography, separate administrative identity, and notable accomplishments in literacy hold the promise of great progress.
Congress government in Himachal Pradesh had implemented the ambitious food security programme of UPA government by launching the Rajiv Gandhi Ann Yojna in the state. Scheme is expected to benefit over 32 lakh families in Himachal Pradesh.
This scheme includes beneficiaries who were covered under the guidelines of this Act including BPL, Antodaya, Single women, critically ill and social security pensioners. Right to Food Act would empower the beneficiaries to avail food items and to enquire with the concerned officers about the delays in getting these items.
Each eligible person would get 5 kilograms of food grains per month. They would be provided three kgs of rice at the rate of Rs 3 per kg and wheat at the rate of Rs 2 per kg. He said that APL families too would also get essential food commodities like before.
Everyone in Himachal Pradesh is covered by the public distribution system, even the chief minister.
Unlike the National Food Security Ordinance which entitles 67 per cent of the population to get subsidised grains from the government every month, Himachal Pradesh covers its entire population has been under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), say officials.
There are 16.31 lakh ration card holders in the state for a population of 68, 64,602, said an official of the Food and Civil Supplies Department.
The ration card holders include 11.63 lakh above poverty line who get three types of dals (lentils), two edible oils and salt at subsidised rates through 4,634 fair price shops.
Interestingly, even the chief minister and his Cabinet colleagues enjoy the facility.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has a ration card with seven family members enrolled on it, according to information accessed through Right to Information.
Likewise, Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.S. Bali, Health Minister Kaul Singh, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Town and Country Planning Minister Sudhir Sharma and Excise and Taxation Minister Parkash Chaudhary also have ration cards.
“Aim is to provide food items to all individuals at subsidised rates
In the 2013-14 budget the state government had allocated Rs 175 crore for the state food subsidy scheme.
National Food Security Act, 2013 is being implemented in Himachal Pradesh. This has wide-ranging effect on the scale and rate of entitlements, as well as the covered beneficiaries, under the Public Distribution System.
Himachal Pradesh has achieved the target of selecting 31.21 lakh beneficiaries under National Food Security Act who are being provided wheat at the rate of two rupees and rice at the rate of three rupees per kilogram per month. The Act was implemented in October, 2013 in the State with the target to select 36.85 lakh consumers.
A spokesperson of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said today that all beneficiary families selected by the Gram Sabha under the ‘Antodaya Ann Yojna’ would automatically be included in the list of eligible beneficiaries. Similarly as per the new approved list all BPL families, those families where any member was getting social security pension, the families selected under ‘Annpuran Yojna’ and all Tibetan/refugees verified by Tibetan Settlement Officer would be included under the scheme.
He said that single woman, children residing in ashrams or abandoned children, the household where the widow was head of the family, people with more than 60 percent disability, the families where the family head is suffering from serious ailment or the family had is above 60 years of age or has no source of income, the family head registered as laborer, the families where member is suffering from leprosy, cancer or HIV, the widows of freedom fighters and martyrs, members living in old age and child homes, nari niketan and orphanages, Tibetan children village schools, Dharamshala, Suja, Mandi and Chonthra who are not getting any financial assistance or food grains from the State Government would also be covered under the scheme.
Those households would also be considered under the ambit of the scheme who have five hectares of non-irrigation or two hectares of irrigation land besides the households whose monthly income was not more than Rs. 12000.
National Food Security Mission (NFSM):
National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is a Central Scheme of GOI launched in 2007 for 5 years to increase production and productivity of wheat, rice and pulses on a sustainable basis so as to ensure food security of the country. The aim is to bridge the yield gap in respect of these crops through dissemination of improved technologies and farm management practices.
Salient Features:
- According to NFSM report, the total financial implications for the NFSM were to be Rs 4,882.48 crore during the XI Plan (2007-08 2011-12). The implementation of the NFSM would result in increasing the production of rice by 10 million ton, wheat by 8 million ton and pulses by 2 million ton by 2011-12.
- Restoring soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level. Creation of employment opportunities and enhancing farm level economy i.e. farm profits to restore confidence amongst the farmers.
- Beneficiaries can choose to draw loans from the Banks, in which case subsidy amount prescribed for a particular component for which the loan availed will be released to the Banks. Otherwise it is directly allocated to state government which distributes among them.
- Promotion and extension of improved technologies i.e., seed, Integrated Nutrient Management including micronutrients, soil amendments, IPM and resource conservation technologies along with capacity building of farmers. Subsidies are also given for farm instruments and technologies such as Rotovators, Sprinkler Sets, Multi Crop planters etc.
- Farmers and their dependents are eligible for this scheme.
- Productions of breeder seeds are done under ICAR while certified seeds and pulses are implemented by State and District agencies. For wheat and rice, these all are done by State Government agencies at district level or state level.
- The targets of 11th five year exceeded and it was extended to 12th five year plan in 2012. In the 12th Plan, NFSM aims at raising the food grain production by 25 million tones. Besides rice, wheat and pulses, NFSM proposes to cover coarse cereals and fodder crops during the 12th plan period (2012-17).
- 11th plan covered 15 states under NFSM-Rice, 9 states under NFSM-Wheat and 16 States under NFSM Wheat. Hence, all states were not covered during 11th plan for NFSM.
- 12th plan aims to cover all the states of India with focus on low productive areas to bridge the yield gaps for additional production while stability in high production areas would be achieved through promotion of conservation agriculture practices.
- Central government allocated over Rs 1,800 crore to states under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in 2012 to raise food grains output by 25 million tones in the 12th Five Year Plan period as the mission was extended with beyond expected output during XI the five year plan. Uttar Pradesh got the maximum amount at Rs 276.9 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh Rs 226.87 crore and Maharashtra Rs 196 crore.
National Food Security Mission (2007-2017)
- Allocation and Offtake of Foodgrains under National Food Security Act (Normal) in Himachal Pradesh (2016-2017-upto June 2016)
- Allocation and Offtake of Foodgrains under National Food Security Act (Tide Over) in Himachal Pradesh (2016-2017-upto June 2016)
- Funds Allocation and Released under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in Himachal Pradesh (2015-2016)
- Funds Allocation and Released under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Pulses) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013 to 2015-2016-upto 11.03.2016)
- Funds Allocation, Release and Expenditure under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Pulses) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013 to 2015-2016)
- Number of Persons Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 in Himachal Pradesh (As on 26.07.2016)
- Allocation and Approved Action Plan under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in Himachal Pradesh (2014-2015)
- Foodgrains Allocated under National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) in Himachal Pradesh (As on 22.07.2014)
- Physical and Financial Progress (Target and Achievements) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Wheat) in Himachal Pradesh (2013-2014)
- Allocation of Funds Made under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013)
- Funds Allocation, Release and Utilisation under National Fund Security Mission (NFSM) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013-Upto 30.11.2012)
- Physical and Financial Progress (Target and Achievements) by Local Initiatives under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Rice) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013)
- Physical and Financial Progress (Target and Achievements) by Local Initiatives under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Wheat) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013)
Physical and Financial Progress (Target and Achievements) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Rice) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013)
Physical and Financial Progress (Target and Achievements) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Wheat) in Himachal Pradesh (2012-2013)