National Food Security Mission
National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is a Central Scheme of GOI
launched in 2007 for 5 years to increase production and productivity of
wheat, rice and pulses on a sustainable basis so as to ensure food
security of the country. The aim is to bridge the yield gap in respect
of these crops through dissemination of improved technologies and farm
management practices. Salient Features: According
to NFSM report, the
total financial implications for the NFSM were to be Rs 4,882.48 crore
during the XI Plan (2007-08 2011-12). The implementation of the NFSM
would result in increasing the production of rice by 10 million ton,
wheat by 8 million ton and pulses by 2 million ton by 2011-12. Restoring
soil fertility and productivity at the individual farm level. Creation
of employment opportunities and enhancing farm level economy i.e. farm
profits to restore confidence amongst the farmers. Beneficiaries can
choose to draw loans from the Banks, in which case subsidy amount
prescribed for a particular component for which the loan availed will be
released to the Banks. Otherwise it is directly allocated to state
government which distributes among them. Promotion and extension of
improved technologies i.e., seed, Integrated Nutrient Management
including micronutrients, soil amendments, IPM and resource conservation
technologies along with capacity building of farmers. Subsidies are
also given for farm instruments and technologies such as Rotovators,
Sprinkler Sets, Multi Crop planters etc. Farmers and their dependents
are eligible for this scheme. Productions of breeder seeds are done
under ICAR while certified seeds and pulses are implemented by State and
District agencies. For wheat and rice, these all are done by State
Government agencies at district level or state level. Current Status:
The targets of 11th five year exceeded and it was extended to 12th five
year plan in 2012. In the 12th Plan, NFSM aims at raising the food grain
production by 25 million tones. Besides rice, wheat and pulses, NFSM
proposes to cover coarse cereals and fodder crops during the 12th plan
period (2012-17). 11th plan covered 15 states under NFSM-Rice, 9 states
under NFSM-Wheat and 16 States under NFSM Wheat. Hence, all states were
not covered during 11th plan for NFSM. 12th plan aims to cover all the
states of India with focus on low productive areas to bridge the yield
gaps for additional production while stability in high production areas
would be achieved through promotion of conservation agriculture
practices. Central government allocated over Rs 1,800 crore to states
under the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in 2012 to raise food
grains output by 25 million tones in the 12th Five Year Plan period as
the mission was extended with beyond expected output during XI the five
year plan. Uttar Pradesh got the maximum amount at Rs 276.9 crore,
followed by Madhya Pradesh Rs 226.87 crore and Maharashtra Rs 196 crore.
SABLA Scheme
In November 2009 the Women and Child Development Minister Krishna
Tirath had disclosed that government will soon be introducing a new
health scheme, which will exclusively cater to the health care
requirements of adolescent girls. The scheme was named Rajiv Gandhi
Scheme for empowerment of Adolescent Girls 'SABLA' and the target
beneficiaries are adolescent girls in
the age group of 11-18 years. The scheme was not yet launched and the
government was ascertaining the state of preparedness of the States/UTs
for its implementation. On July 7, 2010, a Group of Ministers, headed by
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, recommends the implementation of
'Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls - 'SABLA' in
selected 200 districts of the country. The 200 districts would be
selected based on set of indicators related to health, nutrition and
education of adolescent girls and include well-administered, moderate
and more difficult districts in equal proportion in all States/UTs.
'SABLA' is a Centrally-sponsored scheme implemented through the State
Governments/UTs with 100 per cent financial assistance from the Centre
for all inputs other than nutrition provision for which 50 per cent
Central assistance to States would be provided. Anganwadi Centres would
be the focal point for delivery of services.
