Breaking the Cycle: Food Security Act helps 1.8 million children grow stronger, shows study
National Food Security Act (NFSA) of 2013 has been instrumental in reducing child stunting in India, preventing stunting in approximately 1.8 million children across eight states, reported TOI, citing a study published in the American Economic Association's Journal on Applied Economics. The evaluation highlights the impact of expanded food grain distribution under the Act on child nutrition, stunting, and dietary diversity.
The study, conducted by Aditya Shrinivas of IIM Bangalore alongside researchers from the universities of California and Calgary, found that the Public Distribution System (PDS) under the NFSA improved not just nutrition but also household welfare. By increasing daily wages and overall income, the PDS provided crucial support to poor households, who are primarily net labor suppliers. Additionally, it helped vulnerable families withstand climate shocks such as poor rainfall or drought.
The NFSA standardized entitlements to 5 kg of staple grains per person per month at subsidized rates—Rs 3 per kg for rice and Rs 2 per kg for wheat. Before the Act, states had discretion over prices and quantities offered under the PDS. This shift from per-household to per-individual entitlements particularly benefited larger families, prompting less generous states to expand their food distribution programs.
The research, based on data from 30 villages across eight states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha—focused on ration card-holding households, with
