Assam Food security

Assam Food security:-

Security of food, in simplest terminology, implies adequate intake of food by every individual without any difficulty or anxiety. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 recognised right to food as a core element of an adequate standard ofliving. Following this, and more specially from world food crisis of 1972-74, food security became an important “organizing principle” in development.

History :–

Food security is the foremost important issue of a state or a country. The development of a country or a state is highly dependent on it. Food unsecured population cannot think for other issues of their life. In the state of Assam, just after independence the state had enough food for the population, which gradually decreased until 1981-83. But, after 1981-83, the per capita availability of food grains had increased gradually due to use of modern practices of cultivation viz., high yielding varieties, fertilizers, etc. which led to increase in production. Nevertheless, this increase could not surpass the normative requirement of total food grains. Thus, although per capita availability of total cereals was marginally higher than the normative requirement, the state remains food deficit state since 1961-63 to 2000-02. Almost similar trend of change in per capita availability of food grains was observed in all the districts of the state with a few exceptions. Per capita availability of pulses as well as oilseeds was found to be very low, which was far below the normative requirement and in most of the cases revealed a declining trend.

National Food Security Act:-

The Assam government has been implement National Food Security Act from December 24, 2015 and providing subsidised rice to 2.4 crore people in the state. 60 per cent population from the towns and 84 per cent of the people living in villages taking benefit under the Act.

The Schemes under NFSA:-

The National Food Security Act, 2013 has been implemented in the State of Assam since December 2015 and under NFSA’13 , 84.17% of Rural population and 60.35% of Urban population (as per Census 2011) of the state are covered to distribute rice at highly subsidized rate of Rs 3.00 per kg. The total population benefitted under NFSA’13 in the state is 2.52 crore. There are two categories of beneficiaries under NFSA’13 –

AAY Beneficiaries provided 35 kg of rice per Family at Rs 3.00 per kg
Priority Household Beneficiaries provided 5 kg of Rice per Member at Rs 3.00 per kg.

Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme:-

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme is in implementation since November, 2001 in the state as per GOI’s guidelines. The State has 7.04 lakhs of AAY families as per the direction of the Central Govt. and all these AAY families are selected under NFSA’13 and are provided with highly subsidized rice @35 kg per family per month at Rs. 3/- per kg . The Priority Household beneficiaries are comprised of all the eligible families from the erstwhile categories of BPL, APL, MMASY FICs under PDS/TPDS. The new applicants are also considered under Priority Household category. The Priority Household beneficiaries are provided with 5 kg of Rice /family member at Rs 3.00 per Kg . The Transportation Cost and Commission for the above is borne by the Central and State Govts.

S.K.Oil Allocation:

The Govt of India allocates 80352 KL of S K Oil to the Govt of Assam for the month of Jan, Feb & March 2016 (26784 KL for each month).The Govt of India allocates 76332 KL of S K Oil to the Govt of Assam for the month of April, May&June 2016.

Tide Over Allocation:

Apart from the allocation of Rice under NFSA from the month of Dec, 2015, the Govt of India has been allocationg 8272 MT of Wheat per month under Tide Over Allocation.

Additional Allotment for Tea Garden Labourers:

The Govt of India has allocated 7590 MT of Rice and 5000 MT of Wheat at Economic Cost to the Govt of Assam as additional monthly allocation from Dec 2015 onwards to meet additional requirement for Tea Planters Labourers

The Randhanjyoti Scheme:-

The scheme is basically a beneficiary oriented scheme. This scheme was originally launched on 15th August, 2003 for providing 1 (one) LPG cylinder with accessories to the women of the following prioritized groups:

(1) Widows

(2) Women members of Self Help Groups

(3) Any other female member of the BPL families

Equipments provided under Randhanjyoti Scheme are:

One LPG single gas burner
Two nos. of domestic LPG cylinder (14.2 Kg)
One pressure regulator (ISI marked)
One connecting Rubber Tube (Suraksha).
One blue book with security voucher.

A total of 1,79,530 beneficiaries have already been benefitted.

In the financial year 2015-16, the Guidelines for the scheme has been revised and now 2 (two) LPG Cylinders along with the accessories are being provided to 2847 targeted families.

AAMAR DUKAN:-

This scheme was launched by the Assam goverment on 24th December 2010 (National Consumers Day). The scheme with the brand name and logo of “AAMAR DUKAN” and “JAGO GRAHAK JAGO” envisages providing of 23 (including iodized salt) essential non PDS MRP based food items to the Family Identity (FI) card holders of all categories and the general public, through FP shops with space, enterprise and a willingness to perform, throughout the State.
3812 numbers of selected AAMAR DUKAN in the state are functioning.
During the financial year 2014-15, a total of Rs. 500.00 lakh has been provided to 755 numbers of AAMAR DUKAN @ Rs 66,225.00 per AAMAR DUKAN with two fold objectives of enhancing infrastructure and for providing better services.
Financial assistance of a total fund of Rs. 500.00 lakh has been provided for financial assistance to another 755 numbers of ‘AAMAR DUKAN’s during 2015-16.

Food Security Measures:-

Before implementation of NFSA ,there were the following schemes in the state towards food Security:-

a) The PDS Scheme:-

Above Poverty Line (APL) families were provided PDS subsidized APL rice, S K Oil, Atta and iodized salt as per quantum as received from the government of India from time to time in each month.

b) The TPDS Scheme:-

Against the given target of 19.06 lakh beneficiaries of BPL families, the State already achieved the target by selecting, providing distinctive F.I. cards and also distributedPDS items at subsidized rates to the selected beneficiaries. It is to be noted here that out of these 19.06 lakh selected beneficiaries, 12.02 lakhs of beneficiaries take PDS benefits as BPL families and rest 7.04 lakhs of beneficiaries are included under AAY category families as per direction and guidelines of the Central Govt.

c) The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY):-

The Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme is in implementation since November, 2001 in the state as per GOI’s guidelines. Against the target of 7.04 lakhs of beneficiaries for AAY, the State already converted 7.04 lakhs of existing BPL families into AAY category as per the direction of the Central Govt. The selected AAY families of the State are provided with highly subsidized rice @35 kg per family per month at Rs. 3/- per kg. The transportation charges @Rs.30/- per quintal for carrying AAY rice from the concerning FSD of FCI to the retail outlets of GPSS, WCCS, Fair Price Shops are provided to the PDS Nominees by the State Government under Non-plan.

d) MukhyaMantri Anna SurakshaYojana (MMASY):-

The scheme originally envisaged providing of 20 kg rice to each beneficiary family per month at Rs. 6 per kg against a special FIC. This scheme was launched by Hon’ble Chief Minister Assam on 2nd October 2010 at RabindraBhawan, Guwahati. 20 lakh families were getting benefit under this scheme. Initially 10,000 families per Legislative Assembly constituency were selected by notified Selection Committee under the supervisions of the Deputy Commissioner/Principal Secretaries. The target later was increased to 15,000 families per LA Constituency. The Second Phase of the scheme also covered the beneficiary families in the erosion affected areas, Char areas, tea garden community and vulnerable Inter-State and Inter-District boundaries.Lately the beneficiaries were provided with 5.9 kg of subsidized rice at BPL rate upon production of distinctive Ration Card. However, at present due to the implementation of NFSA’13 where most of the MMASY families have been included, the allocation of MMASY has been kept in abeyance since Oct, 2015 until further order.

ACTS:-

The Essentials Commodities Act,1955:-

It is a Central Act to provide, in the interests of the general public, for the control of the production, supply, and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities.

The prevention of Black Marketing and maintenance of Essential Commodity Act,1980:-

Vide this order the Officer/Official of the Food and Supplies and Consumer Affairs Dept. are empowered for detention in certain cases for the purpose of prevention of black-marketing and maintenance of supplies of commodities essential to the community/consumers and for the matter connected therewith.

3.The Consumer Protection Act,1986:-

This Act lays down detailed provisions and procedures for redressel of grievances and to provide for better protection of the interests of the consumers and for that purpose to make provisions for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumers, disputes and for matter connected therewith.

RULES:-

1.The Assam State Consumer Protection Rules,1989