Background:
The Supreme Court of India noted that the NFSA relies on outdated 2011 Census data, affecting food grain distribution, especially for migrant workers post-pandemic.
Relevance: GS 2( Social Justice, welfare scheme)
- Supreme Court Hearing: The Court is hearing a suo motu case on food security, particularly for migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Prashant Bhushan’s Argument: Advocate Bhushan criticized the reliance on the outdated 2011 Census for distributing food under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), arguing that it no longer reflects current needs, especially post-pandemic.
- Impact of the Pandemic: Bhushan emphasized that the situation of the poor has worsened in the last five years due to the pandemic, and an updated Census (2021) could have revealed millions of additional eligible beneficiaries.
- Centre’s Defence: The Centre, represented by Aishwarya Bhati, maintained that the NFSA currently covers 81.35 crore beneficiaries .
- Discriminatory Claims: Bhushan argued that the current system is discriminatory, as it excludes 2-3 crore people who should also be eligible for food subsidies.
- Court’s Remarks: The Supreme Court noted that a long-term solution to food insecurity should focus on generating employment for the poor.
