Tamil Nadu CM Opposes Food Security Act Amendment, Says It Will Harm 70 Lakh Poor

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Union government to retain the existing entitlement of 35 kilograms of foodgrains per household per month under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). The existing provision applies irrespective of the number of family members, as has been the practice since the National Food Security Act (NFSA) was enacted in 2013.

In his letter, Mr. Vijay requested the Centre to reconsider the proposed amendment to the first proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the NFSA. The amendment seeks to change the entitlement from 35 kilograms per household to 7 kilograms per person per month, with an overall ceiling of 35 kilograms per household.

“If the proposed amendment is brought into force without modification, it would diminish the food security of nearly 70 lakh of Tamil Nadu’s most vulnerable citizens,” Mr. Vijay wrote. He stressed that the existing household-based entitlement ensures that no family, regardless of size, is left without adequate foodgrains. The change to a per capita basis with a household ceiling would effectively reduce the quantity of foodgrains reaching the poorest households, particularly in states with smaller average family sizes.

Tamil Nadu has an average family size of 3.54 members among AAY households. The state currently has 18,64,600 AAY ration cards covering 69,26,983 beneficiaries. These households include families headed by widows, persons with disabilities, elderly individuals without regular income, tribal families, landless agricultural labourers, daily wage earners, and those suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

Mr. Vijay noted that the proposed amendment would penalise states with smaller family sizes, especially in southern India, which have successfully implemented the Union government's family planning programme. He argued that the NFSA was designed as a last-resort protection for the poorest, with simple, unconditional, household-based entitlements to prevent hidden hunger and malnutrition.

The Chief Minister also emphasised that Tamil Nadu is predominantly a rice-consuming state, and rice supplied to AAY beneficiaries is the staple food for all three meals. “It cannot be substituted with any other commodity purchased from the open market. Any reduction in the entitlement would impose a significant financial burden on these families, pushing them towards poverty, malnutrition and hunger,” he said.

Tamil Nadu has consistently maintained a robust Public Distribution System (PDS) and has extended coverage and entitlements beyond Central norms where necessary, reflecting its commitment to eliminating hunger and ensuring nutritional security. Mr. Vijay urged the Prime Minister to reconsider the amendment to protect the food security of the state’s most vulnerable citizens.