Tripura has tasted success in the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA). The Union Government awarded Tripura for topping the table among the Special category States – North Eastern states, Himalayan states, and the Island Regions, a government press release revealed on Monday (July 18).
Recently Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal published the first edition of the National Food Security Act Index 2022 for the States and Union Territories based on the NFSA and Targeted Public Distribution System (TDPS).
In this index, Tripura, under the Special Category States — North Eastern states, Himalayan states, and the Island Regions – secured top position with a score of 0.788. In this category Himachal Pradesh (0.758) and Sikkim (0.710) secured the 2nd and third positions respectively.
Overall, Tripura bagged the 5th position in the country.
According to a PIB Press release of July 5, 2022, this “State ranking Index for NFSA” attempts to document the status and progress of implementation of NFSA and various reform initiatives across the country, post consultation with states.
It highlights the reforms undertaken by States and UTs and creates a cross-learning environment and scale-up reform measures by all states and union territories. The present Index is largely focused on NFSA Distribution and will include procurement, PMGKAY Distribution in future.
The Index for ranking the states and UTs is built on three key pillars which covers the end-to-end implementation of NFSA through TPDS. These pillars are: i) NFSA— Coverage, targeting and provisions of the Act, ii) Delivery platform, and iii) Nutrition initiatives.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was enacted on July 5, 2013 and in order to celebrate the day, the conference was organized to deliberate and discuss nutritional security, food security, best practices followed in Public Distribution System, crop diversification, reforms in PDS and storage sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Goyal said that India is now 100% connected under One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC). He complemented Prime Minister Narendra Modi for visualizing this path-breaking initiative and all those associated with it. He said that 45 crore transitions have taken so far providing the beneficiaries the freedom to collect ration from any State/UT in the country. He said that during COVID, ONORC supported migrants.
