Tamil Nadu Food security | Tamil Nadu State PSC (TNPSC): Preparation - TNPSC (Tamil Nadu) PDF Download

Introduction

Food security is a critical issue in India, despite the country's progress in achieving self-sufficiency in food production. The focus has expanded beyond just ensuring the availability of food to addressing issues of hunger, malnutrition, and economic access to food. This detailed overview explores the various dimensions of food security in Tamil Nadu and the broader context of India's food security framework.

Food Security Index in India

• Historical Evolution: Initially, after World War II, food security in India was defined by the establishment of emergency grain reserves and ensuring the physical availability of food.
• Green Revolution Impact: With the advent of the Green Revolution in the late 1960s, the concept expanded to include economic access to food, highlighting that merely having food available was not enough; people needed to be able to afford it.
• Social Access: The 1980s saw a shift towards ensuring social access, focusing on marginalized communities and addressing gender discrimination.
• Environmental Factors: Post-UNCED conference in Rio de Janeiro, there has been growing awareness of environmental factors affecting food security. Sustainable agricultural practices are crucial as human activities strain ecological foundations.
• Early Assessments: The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) initiated food security assessments through Atlases, analyzing food security in both rural and urban areas.

Public Distribution System (PDS) Overview

• Initial Setup: The Public Distribution System (PDS), the world's largest food distribution network, began during World War II as a wartime rationing measure.
• Expansion in the 1960s: To address food shortages, the PDS was expanded, and institutions like the Agriculture Prices Commission and the Food Corporation of India were established to enhance domestic food procurement and storage.
• Universal Scheme: By the 1970s, PDS became a universal scheme for distributing subsidized food, later revamped in the 1990s to target poor and remote areas.
• Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Introduced in 1997, TPDS aimed to provide subsidized food and fuel to the poor through a network of ration shops, with shared responsibilities between the center and states.

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013

• Legal Entitlement: Enacted in September 2013, this Act turned food access into a legal right, relying on the existing TPDS framework to deliver food grains to poor households.
• Food Supply Chain: The Act emphasizes understanding the entire food supply chain from farmers to beneficiaries, addressing implementation challenges and exploring reforms.

Tamil Nadu Food Security

• State Policy: Tamil Nadu's food security strategy focuses on providing sustainable access to food for all, considering dietary needs and preferences. The state ensures the availability of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
• Household Assessment: Food security is evaluated at the household level by measuring food energy intake in terms of quality and quantity.
• Universal PDS: Tamil Nadu operates a Universal Public Distribution System to provide food grains at affordable prices, aiming to prevent exclusions of genuinely poor households due to administrative errors.
• Administration: The Commissioner of Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department (CCS&CP) manages the PDS, with the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) handling procurement and storage.

Fair Price Shops

• Distribution Network: Tamil Nadu has 33,222 Fair Price Shops serving 1.98 crore families. These shops are operated by Cooperative Societies, TNCSC, and Women Self Help Groups.
• Accessibility: Plans are in place to ensure no cardholder needs to walk more than 1.5 km to reach a Fair Price Shop.

Family Cards

• Types of Cards: Family Cards in Tamil Nadu include Rice Cards, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) Cards, Sugar Cards, and No Commodity Cards. These cards are issued based on the needs and preferences of families.
• AAY Scheme: Under the AAY Scheme, 35 kg of rice per month is provided to the poorest families.
• Essential Commodities: The PDS in Tamil Nadu supplies rice, wheat, sugar, and kerosene, along with pulses and fortified flour under the Special PDS to counteract price increases.

Innovative Measures

• Information Cards: Tamil Nadu is a leader in applying innovative solutions, including using distinct color cards for police personnel and issuing family cards to transgender groups living together.
• Total Issuance: Approximately 1.98 crore Family Cards have been distributed in Tamil Nadu.

Conclusion

Tamil Nadu's food security efforts reflect a comprehensive approach to addressing both immediate food needs and long-term sustainability. By integrating universal distribution mechanisms with targeted support for the most vulnerable populations, the state aims to achieve equitable food access for all its residents.