FOOD SECURITY IN CHHATTISHGARH

Submitted To
Dr. HANUMANT YADAV
(Faculty Of Economics)

Submitted By:
Himanshu Kunjam
Roll No. 60
B.A LL.B (HONS.)
Semester III Sec. C

Submitted on:
October 10, 2015.

HIDAYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

RAIPUR, CHHATTISGARH

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CERTIFICATE OF DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the project work entitled “Food Security in Chhattishgarh” submitted to
HNLU, Raipur, is record of an original work done by me under the guidance of Dr.Hanumant
Yadav, Faculty Member, Economics , HNLU, Raipur .

Himanshu Kunjam

Roll no.60

Sem. III

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION…………………………….
 PROVISION FOR FOOD SECURITY……………………..
 IMMEDIATE RELIEF IN CASE OF HUNGER…………………………
 FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT…………….
 SCHEMES OF STATE GOVERNMENT……………………………………………………………
 CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Acknowledgements
I feel highly elated to work on the project “FOOD SECURITY IN CHHATTISHGARH”.
The practical realisation of the project has obligated the assistance of many persons. Firstly I
express my deepest gratitude towards Dr. Hanumant Yadav, Faculty of Sociology to provide
me with the opportunity to work on this project. His able guidanceship and supervision were
of extreme help in understanding and carrying out the nuances of this project.

I would also like to thank The University and the Vice Chancellor for providing extensive
database resources in the library and for the internet facilities provided by the University.

Some printing errors might have crept in which are deeply regretted. I would be grateful to
receive comments and suggestions to further improve this project.

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Objectives:
 To study Food Security in Chhattishgarh.
 Implementing Proper food Security in Chhattishgarh..

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Research Methodology:
This Research Project is descriptive, analytical in nature. Accumulation of the information on
the topic includes wide use of secondary sources like books, e-articles etc. The matter from
these sources have been compiled and analysed to understand the concept from the grass root
level.

Websites, dictionaries and articles have also been referred.

The structure of the project, as instructed by the Faculty of Sociology has been adhered to
and the same has been helpful in giving the project a fine finish off.

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Introduction

The Chhattisgarh Food Security Act was passed on 21 December 2012 to ensure “access to
adequate quantity of food and other requirements of good nutrition to the people of the
state, at affordable prices, at all times to live a life of dignity”. Basic differences between
Central Government's ordinance and Chhattisgarh Government's Food Security Act,
have become the topic of discussion across the country nowadays. Six months back
only, Chhattisgarh Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Raman
Singh introduced a bill in Vidhan Sabha on 21 December 2012, and gave a legal
guarantee of food supply to nearly 50,000 families i.e. to about 90 per cent of the
1population in state. This includes 42 lakh poor families and 8 lakh general families.
Only 6 lakh families that are financially strong and are income-taxpayers have not
been included under this food security act. Chhattisgarh has made a historical
achievement by introducing the very first food security act of the country for poor and
needy families of state, and it is the best by all means. It is noteworthy that there are
some major differences in Chhattisgarh's Food Security Act and Centre's ordinance.
On big dissimilarity is that Chhattisgarh Government has made this law with
unanimous consent, after much deliberation over the food security bill introduced in
Vidhan Sabha with the opposition, whereas Central Government has decided to
implement the present food security as ordinance. The government of Chhattisgarh has
made a provision in its Food Security Act, to provide for entitlements in either the state or
federal law, whichever is more. Only 33% households in Chhattisgarh were entitled to free
grain from the government of India under the national public distribution system. Whereas,
the state food security act is providing entitlements to 90% of households.

If the national food law is passed then 78% of households will be entitled to cheap grains
from the government of India’s public distribution system. However the entitlement will
come down to 22.5 kg from 35 kg per household – less than under the state system. Passage
of the national food law does not lead to any adverse impact on implementation of the state
system. Hence, no major change is required to the existing system.

1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhattisgarh_Food_Security_Act,_2012

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PROVISION FOR FOOD SECURITY

Subject to the provision of Section 14, every Antyodaya household, priority household and
general household, identified under sub-section (5) of Section 15, shall be entitled to receive
such quantities of such food items at such subsidized prices as specified in Schedule-I.
Entitlements provided under this section shall be covered under Targeted Public Distribution
System. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 and 14, every pregnant woman and lactating
mother shall be entitled to—

(a) Meal, free of charge, during pregnancy and up to six months after childbirth through local
anganwadi, so as to meet the nutritional standards as specified in Schedule-II.

2
(b) Maternity benefit in accordance with a scheme, payable in such manner and subject to
such conditions as may be prescribed in that scheme.

(1) Subject to the provision of Section 14, every child up to the age of fourteen years shall
have the following entitlements for his nutritional needs—

(a) In case of children in the age group of six months to six years, age appropriate meals, free
of charge, through the local anganwadi so as to meet the nutritional standards as specified in
Schedule-II : Provided that for children below the age af six months, exclusive breast-feeding
shall be promoted.
(b) In the case of children in the age group of six to fourteen years, one mid-day meal, free of
charge, everyday, except school holidays, in all schools run by local bodies, Government and
Government aided schools, up to Class VIII, so as to meet the nutritional standards as
specified in Schedule-II.
(2) Every school, referred to in clause (b) of sub-section (1), and local anganwadi shall have
facilities for cooking meals, drinking water and sanitation: Provided that in urban areas
facilities of centralized kitchens for cooking meals may be used, wherever required, as per the
guidelines issued by the State Government.

http://www.righttofoodindia.org/data/right_to_food_act_data/official_documents/Chhattisgarh_Food_Securi
ty_Act_2012.pdf

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Immediate Relief In Case of Hunger

The State Government shall prepare and notify guidelines for providing meals, free of
charge, to persons, households, groups, or communities, if any, suffering from hunger or
conditions akin to hunger.

All local bodies in the State shall be responsible for providing relief in case of hunger to such
persons, households, groups, or communities, if any, suffering from hunger or conditions
akin to hunger in the geographical area, so notified, under their jurisdiction in accordance
with the guidelines notified under Section 10, Subject to the provision of Section 14, all
persons, households, groups or communities, identified under Section 11, shall be provided
the following, namely :—
meals, two times a day, free of charge, in accordance with a scheme and in the manner as
may be prescribed in such scheme, for six months from the date of identification; any other
relief considered necessary by the State Government.
The welfare measures he has undertaken have not helped in the poor rising above the BPL
(below poverty line) status. The same question plagues the Manmohan Singh government.
The economic growth had helped UPA I to garner enough revenue to spend on welfare
measures targeted at the poor, but it has not helped in bringing down the number of people
living in poverty. The claims and counter-claims by governmental and non-governmental
agencies on the number of poor people is an economic and statistical debating point, but that
does not give much succour to the poor. economic development claimed by chief minister
Raman Singh of Chhattisgarh, the state remains backward and poor. The welfare measures he
has undertaken have not helped in the poor rising above the BPL (below poverty line) status.
The same question plagues the Manmohan Singh government. The economic growth had
helped UPA I to garner enough revenue to spend on welfare measures targeted at the poor,
but it has not helped in bringing down the number of people living in poverty. The claims and
3
counter-claims by governmental and non-governmental agencies on the number of poor
people is an economic and statistical debating point, but that does not give much succour to
4
the poor.

http://www.righttofoodindia.org/data/right_to_food_act_data/official_documents/Chhattisgarh_Food_Securi
ty_Act_2012.pdf
4
http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-food-security-bill-ensnares-the-poor-1844380

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Financial Responsibility of The State Government

(1) Any household specified as eligible household under this Act or under any other law for
the time being in force, shall be entitled to such quantity of such food items, as specified in
this Act or under any other law made by the Parliament in this behalf, whichever is more.

(2) Any household specified as eligible household under this Act or under any other law for
the time being in force, shall be entitled to receive such food items at such prices as specified
under this Act or under any other law made by the Parliament in this behalf, whichever is
less.

(3) To give effect to the provisions of sub-section (1) or (2) of this section or sub-section (7)
of section 15 of this Act, necessary order modifying the existing criteria of eligible
households or entitlement to receive food items or prices of the food items, shall be issued by
the State Government.

(4) The State Government shall be responsible to bear all the additional expenditure that may
have to be incurred, due to operation of sub-section (1) or (2) of this section or sub-section
(7) of section 15 of this Act.

http://www.righttofoodindia.org/data/right_to_food_act_data/official_documents/Chhattisgarh_Food_Securi
ty_Act_2012.pdf

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Schemes of State Government
The State Government shall notify and implement schemes covering entitlements
under section 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and Chapter-IV of the Act which shall include—

A scheme to provide meals, free of charge, to pregnant women and lactating mothers as
specified under Section 4;

A scheme to provide meals through local anganwadis, free of charge, to children as specified
under clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 5;

A scheme to provide mid day meal, free of charge, to students up to classVIII as specified
under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 5;

A scheme to provide food items to students as specified under Section 6;

A scheme to provide meals to malnourished children as specified under Section 7;

A scheme providing for setting up of Annapoorna Dal Bhat centers for providing meals, free
of charge, to destitute and homeless persons as specified
in Section 8 and Chapter-IV;

A scheme to provide meals, free of charge, in emergency and disaster

Affected persons as specified under Section 9;

A scheme for maintenance of such buffer stock of food grains to be maintained by local
bodies, to provide meals, free of charge, to persons identifiedunder Chapter-IV destitute and
homeless persons, as may be specified in such scheme Provided that the State Government
shall notify all such schemes within six months from the date of commencement of this Act.

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Chhattisgarh, which pioneered the food security law in the country in 2012 and is credited
with dramatically improving its public distribution system, has come to realise that the model
is flawed. The state government has now decided to shift the entitlement of highly subsidised
grain and other food items to individuals, from households at present, a move that would cut
the grain requirement for the scheme by 25-30%.
6
The decision to redefine beneficiaries of the state’s food security scheme is in the wake of
the huge burden on the exchequer given that 90% of the state’s 2.5 crore population is
currently entitled to subsidised food. Also, PDS grain is getting diverted to the open market
on a massive scale.
At present, close to 1.6 million tonnes of rice and about half a million tonnes of wheat are
distributed through PDS in the state annually.

Under the state food security legislation, about 16.4 lakh “most vulnerable” Antyodaya
households get 35 kg of grain, mostly consisting of rice and wheat, at Rs 1 per kg besides 2
kg of iodides salt free and 2 kg black gram and pulses at Rs 5 and Rs 10 per kg, respectively.
The official added that the state cabinet could shortly consider the changes proposed in the
food security law to ensure that every deserving individual gets 7 kg of subsidized food grain
per month instead of the current system of providing 35 kg of grain to each of the state’s 62
lakh beneficiary households. As per the census 2011, Chhattisgarh had 56 lakh families.

6
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/economy/chhattisgarh-rethinks-food-scheme-to-focus-on-
individuals-not-families/25238/

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Conclusion

To cover 90% population of the state has benefited from cheap food grains under The
Chhattisgarh Food and Nutrition Security Act 2012. Entitlements are provided to each
household and the eldest woman in the family is regarded as the head of the household.

Chhattisgarh covered 55% of households of landless labourers, small marginal farmers with
less than two hectares of land, construction workers and those in the urban informal sector.

One in four families with particularly vulnerable members, such as those who are terminally
ill or physically challenged, have benefited from the law so far. The state government
expanded the coverage under public distribution system in 2007 under the Mukhyamantri
Khadyanna Sahayata Yojana (meaning the chief minister’s food aid program). Since then, the
government has been spending to the tune of 6 billion rupees ($ 99 million) to 8 billion
rupees, every year, from its own resources on food security

To provide pulses and iodized salt to vulnerable households and those families of landless
laborers and construction workers. The Act also has special entitlements for children,
pregnant and lactating mothers, people living with hunger, destitute, homeless, migrants and
for persons affected by emergency and disasters.

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