Ministry of Food Processing Industries
azadi ka amrit mahotsav

Sowing Seeds of Nutrition Key Schemes Driving Food Security Across Nation

Posted On: 01 FEB 2025 2:42PM by PIB Delhi

Introduction

Food is a fundamental necessity and ensuring its accessibility while maintaining nutritional standards is crucial for overall well-being. To address this, the government has implemented several unique schemes that not only provide essential rations at fair prices but also focus on the nutrition of newborns and mothers. These initiatives are designed to promote holistic health and ensure that every citizen has access to both food and proper nutrition.

Public Distribution System (PDS)

The Public Distribution System (PDS) evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices. Over the years, PDS has become an important part of Government’s policy for management of food economy in the country.

Key Achievements:

  1. 100% digitized ration cards/beneficiaries’ data under NFSA in all States/UTs. Details of almost 20.5 Crore ration Cards covering around 80.5 Crore beneficiaries are available on transparency portals of States/UTs.
  2. More than 99.8% Aadhaar seeding of ration cards (at least one member).
  3. About 99.6% (5.41 Lakh of total 5.43 Lakh) Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country are automated using electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices for transparent and ensured distribution of subsidized food grains to beneficiaries.

  4. Under distribution of food grains, more than 97% of the transactions have been recorded biometrically/Aadhaar authenticated by States/UTs.

PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman) Scheme

Launch Date: Approved from 2021-22 to 2025-26

Objective: The PM POSHAN (POSHAN Shakti Nirman) Scheme was earlier known as the National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools. The initiative was first launched on 15th August 1995 under the name National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE). Its goal has been to improve school enrollment, attendance and retention by offering nutritional support to primary school children. Over the years, the scheme expanded to cover upper primary classes in 2008-09 and was renamed as Mid-Day Meal Scheme, evolving in terms of coverage, food quantity and financial assistance.

Key Achievements:

  1. National scheme of PM POSHAN in schools has been announced for the five-year period 2021-22 to 2025-26 with the financial outlay of ₹ 54061.73 crores from the Central Government and ₹ 31733.17 crore from State Governments & UT administrations.
  2. Central Government will also bear additional cost of about ₹ 45000 crore on food grains. Therefore, the total scheme budget will amount to ₹ 130794.90 crore.
  3. The budget released for the PM POSHAN Scheme rose from ₹6,539.52 crore in 2008-09 to ₹8,457.74 crore in 2023-24, marking an increase in funding for the scheme over the years.

PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME)

Launch Date: The scheme is operational for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2025-26.


Objective: With an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has introduced the PMFME Scheme to offer financial, technical, and business support for upgrading existing micro food processing enterprises and establishing new units.

Key Achievements:

  1. Project Cost Growth: The project cost under the PMFME Scheme increased from ₹390.99 crore in 2021-22 to ₹5,198.3 crore in 2023-24.
  2. Increase in Food Processing Units: The number of food processing units grew significantly from 2,885 in 2021-22 to 54,730 in 2023-24.
  3. Employment Generation: Employment generated through the scheme rose from 14,201 jobs in 2021-22 to 1,88,802 jobs in 2023-24.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI)

Launch Date: Approved by the Union Cabinet on 31st March 2021 to be implemented from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

Objective: With a budget of ₹10,900 crore under the scheme the Government provides financial incentives to promote Indian food brands abroad, supporting branding and marketing activities for Indian-branded consumer food products in global markets.

Key Achievements:

 

  1. According to data reported by the scheme's beneficiaries, an investment of ₹ 8,910 crore has been made across 213 locations. As of 31 October 2024, the scheme has reportedly generated employment of over 2.89 lakh.
  2. The project cost for the National PLISFPI Scheme was ₹663 crore in 2020-21, and it increased significantly to ₹8,910 crore in 2023-24, reflecting substantial growth and investment in the initiative.Nutr

ition

  1. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
  2. Launch Date: March, 2020
  3. Objective: Objective: In the wake of economic disruptions caused by the unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Government had announced the distribution of additional free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) to about 81.35 Crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries at the scale of 5 Kg per person per month under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), over and above the regular monthly NFSA foodgrains. The total duration of the scheme was 28 months
  4. To remove the financial burden of the poor beneficiaries and to ensure nationwide uniformity and effective implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the Government had decided to provide food grains free of cost to NFSA beneficiaries i.e. AAY households and PHH beneficiaries, for a period of one year beginning from 01.01.2023 to 31.12.2023 under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
  5. More than 75 crore beneficiaries have received foodgrains every month during implementation of PMGKAY in FY 2020-21, 2021-22 and FY 2022-23.
  6. Keeping in view welfare of the beneficiaries of PMGKAY in terms of accessibility, affordability and availability of food grains for the poor and to maintain uniformity across the States, the Government has decided to continue to provide free food grains to about 81.35 Crore beneficiaries under the PMGKAY for a period of five years with effect from 1st January 2024. iAbhiyaan)

POSHAN Abhiyaan

Launch Date: March, 2018

Objective: To achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner and to achieve reduction in stunting and wasting in children (0-6 years) as well as reduction in anemia in women, children and adolescent girls.

Key Achievements:

  1. Fund allocation under POSHAN Abhiyaan is ₹ 950.00 crore, ₹ 3061.30 crore and ₹ 3400.00 crore in year 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively.
  2. As of 31st December 2023, Poshan Abhiyaan had 10,05,05,429 beneficiaries, and by 31st December 2024, this number had increased to 10,12,82,551, reflecting a steady rise in the scheme's outreach.

By 2023, the Ministry has approved 41 Mega Food Park (MFP) projects, with 24 already operational and 17 more under development. Furthermore, India's innovative branding of millets as Shree Anna marks a significant milestone in the evolution of food and nutrition. With these initiatives, the government aims to revolutionize the food industry, ensuring a sustainable and nutritious future for all.

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Kamna Lakaria


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