Decoding the Effectiveness of India’s National Food Policy: A Deep Dive into Assam’s Case

Abstract

In September 2013, India implemented the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the world’s most extensive food security initiative. The NFSA is significant for Assam since it guarantees food security for its citizens by giving subsidised food grains to eligible consumers. This study aims to analyse the implementation and impact of the NFSA, 2013, among the rural population of Assam, India. The study is based on both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were gathered from a survey of 160 households registered under the NFSA in the Lakhimpur District of Assam. This included 80 households each from Priority Households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana households, selected via convenience sampling. In Assam, the Target Public Distribution System (TPDS) provides mainly rice to vulnerable populations under the NFSA, 2013, which overlooks the nutritional needs of rural and tribal communities. Sixty-six per cent of respondents reported that TPDS subsidised food is necessary for mitigating hunger. However, researchers observed inclusion and exclusion errors, which have questioned NFSA’s effectiveness in targeting poor people. The study highlighted the need for better inclusion criteria, awareness programmes, integrated nutrition education and effective grievance mechanisms to enhance the efficiency and fairness of the TPDS under NFSA Assam.