National Food Security Act Essay

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The National Food Security Act 2013
An Analysis of this Policy from Various Perspectives, and locating it within the framework of Actor-Centered Institutionalism

Abstract: This brief seeks to look at the National Food Security Act from a historical perspective, analyse the costs and benefits associated with the Act, explore what political pressures existed that led to the passage of the act, understand the legal basis behind the act, scrutinise how decisions should be made in the context of the delivery mechanism, what the planning and implementation tools are, how
Introduction:
The National Food Security Act

A Brief History of Food Security in India, and the Right to Food Campaign leading to the National Food Security Act

India, due to its dependence on seasonal monsoons and consequent uncertain harvests, has always been prone to famines. Food security systems were first placed in response to the famine of 1876 in India, wherein a relief package that included the direct provision of food grains to deprived families was incorporated by the British Raj. There were twenty famines between 1860 and 1909, and the Bengal Famine of 1943 that claimed nearly …show more content…

According to this system, deserving families were granted a fixed amount of cereals, in specified cities. It first began in Bombay and subsequently 13 cities were identified. By 1946, 771 cities were covered.
The rationing system was modified to form the Public distribution system, that was introduced as a policy keeping in line with goals of social justice, in 1951. This system utilised a welfare-based approach to food security. However this was plagued by insufficient production and there was an immediate need to re-examine the PDS system.

By the end of the Second Five Year Plan, PDS had changed from the typical rationing system to a social safety system, making available food grains at a 'fair price' so that access of

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