Government Highlights Key Initiatives on Food Security, Health, and Agriculture in Parliament

Keywords: National Food Security Act, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, farmer income, Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0, solar PV modules, cyclone Dana, organic farming, sickle cell anaemia

The Government of India provided key updates on major initiatives during recent parliamentary sessions, highlighting progress in food security, healthcare, waste management, and agriculture. The statements addressed crucial national issues, including nutrition, disease elimination, and disaster response, while also acknowledging gaps in income and implementation data.

Free Food Grain Distribution Under NFSA

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel informed the Rajya Sabha on December 17, 2024, about the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013. The Act provides highly subsidised food grains to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), free food grains are being distributed to 806.7 million beneficiaries, comprising Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households. Patel made the statement while responding to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down To Earth magazine, which revealed that 71% of Indians cannot afford a nutritious meal, and over 1.7 million people die annually due to diet-related diseases.

Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission

The government’s National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission (NSCAEM) aims to screen 70 million people in the 0-40 age group by 2025-26. Patel reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling this health challenge through systematic screening and intervention.

Farmer Income Remains Unmeasured Since 2019

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan cited the 77th National Sample Survey (2019) to report that the average monthly income per agricultural household during the 2018-19 agricultural year stood at ₹10,218. Chouhan acknowledged that updated income data for 2023-24 is unavailable, as no subsequent survey has been conducted.

Progress Under Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0

Chouhan further provided updates on the remediation of urban dumpsites as part of Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0. Of the 2,429 dumpsites occupying 6,022 hectares of land, remediation work has been completed on 659 sites. Progress is underway in 1,176 locations, with 48% (114 million MT) of waste remediated so far. The initiative has reclaimed 2,433 hectares (40%) of land.

Cyclone Dana’s Impact on Odisha’s Agriculture

Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur reported on the agricultural damage caused by Cyclone Dana in Odisha. The cyclone affected 87,855 hectares of cropped area, causing losses exceeding 33% in the impacted regions.

Pesticide Quality Control

Thakur also addressed concerns regarding the use of banned pesticides. The government appointed 11,287 insecticide inspectors and tested 80,789 pesticide samples across laboratories in 2023-24. Out of these, 2,222 samples (2.7%) were found to be substandard, but no banned pesticides were detected.

Boost to Organic and Natural Farming

The government continues to promote organic agriculture through schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), Bhartiya Prakratik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).

Minister Thakur highlighted that the total number of farmers under these schemes are:

• PKVY: 1.937 million
• MOVCDNER: 189,000
• BPKP: 215,000

The BPKP has now been expanded under the National Mission on Natural Farming, approved on November 25, 2024.

PLI Scheme for Solar PV Modules

Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, updated the Lok Sabha on the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for High Efficiency Solar PV Modules. While funds under the scheme are yet to be disbursed, the initiative has attracted ₹35,000 crore in investments as of October 31, 2024. It has also generated 10,000 direct jobs and 22,500 indirect jobs.

The parliamentary discussions reflect the government’s multi-sectoral approach to food security, healthcare, waste management, and agricultural development. However, gaps in updated data, particularly regarding farmer income, underscore the need for more comprehensive monitoring to assess the real impact of these initiatives.

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