New Delhi, Dec 6, 2022: It is in our culture to ensure that nobody goes to sleep on an empty stomach, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday and directed the central government to make sure that foodgrains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) reaches the last man.
A bench of Justices M R Shah and Hima Kohli asked the Centre to submit a fresh chart with the number of migrant and unorganised sector workers registered on eShram portal.
“It is the duty of the central government to ensure foodgrains under NFSA are reaching the last man. We are not saying that Centre is not doing anything, the Union of India has ensured foodgrains to people during Covid. At the same time, we have to see it continues. It is our culture that nobody goes to sleep empty stomach,” the bench said.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan who appeared on behalf of three social activists Anjali Bharadwaj, Harsh Mander and Jagdeep Chhokar, noted that the country’s population has increased after the 2011 census and so has the number of beneficiaries covered under the NFSA.
He further said that many eligible and needy beneficiaries will be not be able to acquire the benefit under the law if it is not enforced effectively.
Bhushan alleged that the government is claiming the per capita income of people has increased in recent years, but added India has slipped rapidly in global hunger index.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati who was appearing on behalf of the Centre submitted there are currently 81.35 crore beneficiaries under NFSA, a very big number even in the Indian context.
The ASG said the 2011 census has not put an halt to the government’s initiative from adding more and more people to the list of beneficiaries.
Bhushan contested her claim saying that 14 states have filed affidavit stating their quota of foodgrains has been exhausted.
The matter is posted for resumed hearing on December 8.
