Salient Features of the act:

♤ Coverage and entitlement under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS): Up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population is covered under TPDS, with uniform entitlement of 5 kg per person per month. However, since Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households constitute poorest of the poor, and are presently entitled to 35 kg per household per month, entitlement of existing AAY households will be protected at 35 kg per household per month.

♤ State-wise coverage: An all India coverage of 75% and 50% in the rural and urban areas is envisaged. The then Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) has determined the State-wise coverage by using the NSS Household Consumption Survey data for 2011-12.

♤ Subsidized prices under TPDS and their revision: Food grains under TPDS is made available at subsidized prices of Rs. 3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains for a period of three years from the date of commencement of the Act.

♤ Identification of Households: Within the coverage under TPDS determined for each state, the work of identification of eligible households is done by States/UTs.

♤ Nutritional Support to women and children: Pregnant women and lactating mothers and children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years are entitled to meals as per prescribed

nutritional norms under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal (MDM) schemes. Higher nutritional norms have been prescribed for malnourished children up to 6 years of age.

♤ Maternity Benefit: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are also entitled to receive maternity benefit of not less than Rs. 6,000.

♤ Women Empowerment: Eldest woman of the household of age 18 years or above to be the head of the household for the purpose of issuing of ration cards.

♤ Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Grievance redressal mechanism at the District and State levels. States will have the flexibility to use the existing machinery or set up separate mechanism.

♤ Cost of intra-State transportation & handling of food grains and FPS Dealers' margin: Central Government provide assistance to States in meeting the expenditure incurred by them on transportation of food grains within the State and handling.

♤ Transparency and Accountability: Provisions have been made for disclosure of records relating to PDS, social audits and setting up of Vigilance Committees in order to ensure transparency and accountability.

♤ Food Security Allowance: Provision for food security allowance to entitled beneficiaries in case of non-supply of entitled food grains or meals.

♤ Penalty: Provision for penalty on public servant or authority, to be imposed by the State Food Commission, in case of failure to comply with the relief recommended by the District Grievance Redressal Officer.