NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL, 2011

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL, 2011 PREAMBLE ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER I .................................................................................................................................................... 3 PRELIMINARY ................................................................................................................................................. 3 Short Title, Extent and Commencement ................................................................................................................... 3 Definitions ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 CHAPTER II ................................................................................................................................................... 8 SHARING OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................ 8 Sharing and other financial responsibilities ................................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER III .................................................................................................................................................. 8 RIGHT TO FOOD SECURITY ............................................................................................................................. 8 Right to access of food security ................................................................................................................................... 8 Life-Cycle Approach ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Entitlements of Pregnant and Nursing Women ........................................................................................................... 8 Entitlements of children at the age group of .............................................................................................................. 9 0 - 6 years .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Midday meal to Children ......................................................................................................................................... 10 No denial to any child ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Prevention and Treatment of Child Malnutrition ...................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER IV ............................................................................................................................................... 10 ENTITLEMENTS OF SPECIAL GROUPS ............................................................................................................ 10 Entitlement of Destitute persons ............................................................................................................................. 11 Entitlement of Homeless Persons ........................................................................................................................... 11 Entitlements of Migrants ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Emergency and Disaster Affected Persons ............................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER – V .............................................................................................................................................. 11 RIGHT OF PERSONS LIVING IN STARVATION .................................................................................................. 11 Right of persons living in starvation ................................................................................................................... 11 Immediate Relief from Starvation ............................................................................................................................. 12 Proactive identification of Starvation ........................................................................................................................ 12 Investigation of Starvation Death .............................................................................................................................. 12 Starvation Protocol .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Right to Approach the District Grievance Redressal Officer .................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER – VI ............................................................................................................................................. 13 RIGHT TO RECEIVE SUBSIDIZED FOOD GRAINS ............................................................................................ 13 Identification of Households ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Subsidised Food Grains to rural households ............................................................................................................. 13 Subsidised Food Grains to Urban households ........................................................................................................... 13 Rate for Priority Households ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Rates for General Households ................................................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER VII .............................................................................................................................................. 14 PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM .................................................................................................................... 14 Procurement of Food Grains ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Power to delegate ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Storage of Food grains............................................................................................................................................... 15 Local Public Distribution Model................................................................................................................................. 15 Quantity and Issue Price ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Distribution of Food Grains ....................................................................................................................................... 16 NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY BILL, 2011 NAC, July, 2011 Fair Price Shops ......................................................................................................................................................... 16 Ration Cards .............................................................................................................................................................. 18 Monitoring the Procurement, Distribution and Sale of Subsidized Food Grains ....................................................... 18 Use of Technology and Monitoring and Information System .................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER VIII ............................................................................................................................................. 19 NATIONAL FOOD COMMISSION ................................................................................................................... 19 Constitution of National Food Commission ............................................................................................................... 19 Eligibility for appointment of Chairperson, Member Secretary and other members................................................ 20 Disqualification for the appointment of Chairperson, Member Secretary and other members ............................... 20 Appointment of Chairperson, Member Secretary and other Members .................................................................... 21 Resignation and removal of Chairperson, Member Secretary and Members ........................................................... 22 Vacancies in the National Food Commission ............................................................................................................. 22 Terms and conditions of service of Chairperson, Member Secretary and Members ................................................ 22 Procedure to be regulated by the National Food Commission ................................................................................. 23 Officers and other staff of the National Food Commission ....................................................................................... 23 Functions of the National Food Commission ............................................................................................................. 23 Powers relating to inquiries ...................................................................................................................................... 24 Investigation .............................................................................................................................................................. 25 Statement made by persons to the National Food Commission ............................................................................... 26 Persons likely to be prejudicially affected to be heard ............................................................................................. 26 Inquiry into complaints ............................................................................................................................................. 26 Steps during and after inquiry ................................................................................................................................... 27 Appeal ....................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Annual Reports .......................................................................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER IX ................................................................................................................................................ 28 STATE FOOD COMMISSION .......................................................................................................................... 28 Constitution of State Food Commission .................................................................................................................... 28 Eligibility for appointment of Chairperson, Member Secretary and other members................................................ 28 Disqualification for appointment of Chairperson, Member Secretary and other members ..................................... 29 Appointment of Chairperson, Member Secretary and other Members .................................................................... 29 Resignation and removal of Chairperson, Member Secretary and Members ........................................................... 30 Vacancies in the State Food Commission .................................................................................................................. 31 Officers and other staff of the State Food Commission ............................................................................................ 31 Functions of the State Food Commission .................................................................................................................. 31 Annual Report ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 Appeal ....................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Application of certain provisions relating to National Food Commission to State Food Commission ...................... 32 CHAPTER – X .............................................................................................................................................. 33 Centralized Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System ............................................................................... 33 Functions of the Nodal Officer .................................................................................................................................. 33 Block Facilitation Centre ............................................................................................................................................ 34 Functions of Block Facilitation Coordinator .............................................................................................................. 34 Telephone Helpline ................................................................................................................................................... 35 Right to make a grievance ......................................................................................................................................... 35 State Government to set up two-tier internal grievance mechanism ....................................................................... 35 Procedure on receipt of complaint ........................................................................................................................... 36 CHAPTER – XI ............................................................................................................................................. 36 DISTRICT GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL OFFICER .................................................................................................. 36 Appointment of the District Grievance Redressal Officer ......................................................................................... 36 Terms of office and Condition of Service .................................................................................................................. 37 Disqualification for appointment of District Grievance Redressal Officer ................................................................. 38 NAC, July, 2011 Jurisdiction of the District Grievance Redressal Officer ............................................................................................ 38 Who can make a complaint ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Manner in which complaint shall be made ............................................................................................................... 39 Procedure on Receipt of Complaint .......................................................................................................................... 39 Procedure for Investigation into Starvation .............................................................................................................. 40 Power to give Directions ........................................................................................................................................... 40 Reference to the State Food Commission ................................................................................................................. 41 Power to Impose Penalty .......................................................................................................................................... 41 Appeal ....................................................................................................................................................................... 41 CHAPTER – XII ............................................................................................................................................ 42 DERELICTION OF DUTIES, PENALTIES AND COMPENSATION ....................................................................... 42 Dereliction of Duty by Public Servant ........................................................................................................................ 42 Dereliction of Duty by Government Departments .................................................................................................... 42 Power to impose Penalties ........................................................................................................................................ 42 Compensation ........................................................................................................................................................... 43 CHAPTER – XIII ........................................................................................................................................... 44 DUTIES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ............................................................................................................ 44 Duties of Central Government to ensure adequate budgetary provisions ............................................................... 44 Duty of Central Government to Frame Schemes ...................................................................................................... 44 CHAPTER – XIV ........................................................................................................................................... 44 DUTIES OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.......................................................................................................... 44 Implementation of nutrition-related schemes .......................................................................................................... 44 Duty of the State Government to set up Anganwadi ................................................................................................ 45 Duty of the State Government to set up Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres ............................................................... 45 Duty of the State Government to set up Community Kitchens in Urban Areas ........................................................ 45 Duty of the State Government to set up Destitute Feeding Centres ........................................................................ 45 Duty the State Government to Publicize and disseminate information about all Entitlements................................ 45 Duty of the State Government to issue job cards/Charts.......................................................................................... 46 Duty of the State Government to comply with directions ........................................................................................ 46 CHAPTER – XV ............................................................................................................................................ 46 DUTIES OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES ........................................................................................................... 46 Duty to monitor implementation of all schemes ...................................................................................................... 46 Duty to identify persons living in starvation .............................................................................................................. 46 CHAPTER – XVI ........................................................................................................................................... 46 TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ...................................................................................................... 46 Duty to Establish Transparency Systems ................................................................................................................... 46 Duties of Proactive Disclosure ................................................................................................................................... 48 Social Audits .............................................................................................................................................................. 48 Social Audit upon Starvation or Starvation Death ..................................................................................................... 49 Vigilance Committee ................................................................................................................................................. 50 Functions of the Vigilance Committee ...................................................................................................................... 50 Inspection of activity, documents and records ......................................................................................................... 51 Implementation of the Right to Information Act ...................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER – XVII .......................................................................................................................................... 51 Progressive Realisation of Food Security ................................................................................................................... 52 CHAPTER – XVIII ......................................................................................................................................... 52 MISCELLANEOUS .......................................................................................................................................... 52 Bar of jurisdiction of courts ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Application of Indian Evidence Act, 1872 .................................................................................................................. 52 Power to delegate ..................................................................................................................................................... 53 NAC, July, 2011 Power of Central Government to give binding directions ......................................................................................... 53 Power of Central Government to make rules............................................................................................................ 53 Power of State Government to make rules ............................................................................................................... 53 Power to remove difficulties ..................................................................................................................................... 53 Act not to have overriding effect .............................................................................................................................. 53 No Private Contractors .............................................................................................................................................. 54 Non Reduction Clause ............................................................................................................................................... 54 Protection of Action Taken in Good Faith ................................................................................................................. 54 Power to Make Regulations ...................................................................................................................................... 54 Financial Memorandum ............................................................................................................................................ 54 SCHEDULE – 1 ............................................................................................................................................. 55 Nutritional Standards ................................................................................................................................... 55 SCHEDULE - 2 ............................................................................................................................................. 56 Norms for Anganwadis ................................................................................................................................ 56