Two-Day National Workshop on “12 Years of NFSA: Reflecting on Implementation, Exclusion and the Future of Food Rights”
20th September 2025
The Centre for Tribal Studies, National Law University Odisha (NLUO), in collaboration with the Jal Shakti Board, NLUO and the Right to Food Campaign, is organising a Two-Day National Workshop on “12 Years of NFSA: Reflecting on Implementation, Exclusion and the Future of Food Rights” on 20th and 21st September 2025 (Saturday and Sunday). The event will be conducted in hybrid mode, with participants joining both at the NLUO campus in Cuttack and online via digital platforms.
The enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 was a watershed moment in India’s social welfare history. It legally recognised food as an entitlement, extending subsidised food grains to nearly 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population. Over the past twelve years, the NFSA has shaped the country’s food security landscape, impacting millions of lives through schemes such as the Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM), and maternity entitlements. Yet, persistent challenges remain – issues of exclusion, digital barriers due to Aadhaar-linked welfare systems, gaps in grievance redress, and inequities in local food systems.
This workshop seeks to critically examine these challenges, reflect on the progress achieved, and chart a path forward. It will feature leading voices from academia, civil society, the legal community, and grassroots activism. Eminent speakers include Dr. Jean Drèze, Harsh Mander, Kavita Srivastava, Dr. Reetika Khera, Dr. Dipa Sinha, Dr. Vandana Prasad, Biraj Patnaik, Anjali Bharadwaj, and several others who have played pivotal roles in shaping the discourse on food rights in India.
The workshop is structured into a series of plenary sessions, panel discussions, community testimonies, film screenings, and open dialogues. The themes to be covered include:
- NFSA at 12: A legal and policy overview.
- Gaps in implementation of core schemes like PDS, ICDS, MDM, and maternity entitlements.
- Digital exclusion in food systems, with a focus on Aadhaar and technology-driven barriers.
- Community testimonies highlighting tribal and disability perspectives on access to food rights.
- Accountability and grievance redress mechanisms under the NFSA.
- Schedule III and WASH-Nutrition convergence– the linkage between food, water, sanitation, and health.
- Food sovereignty versus food security, with a focus on indigenous and sustainable food systems.
- Justiciability of the Right to Food in Courts, exploring the legal enforcement of food rights.
By fostering dialogue between policymakers, lawyers, activists, academics, and students, the workshop aims to create a holistic understanding of food justice in India. It aspires to not only highlight gaps but also collectively imagine a stronger, more accountable, and people-centered implementation of NFSA and related welfare schemes.
The workshop is open to all interested participants, with free registration. However, participants joining online are required to attend all sessions across both days in order to receive their e-certificates. Attendance will be strictly monitored to ensure meaningful engagement.
Event Details:
- Dates:20th–21st September 2025 (Saturday & Sunday)
- Time:From 10:00 AM onwards each day
- Mode:Hybrid (Offline at NLUO Campus, Cuttack & Online via Google Meet/Zoom)
- Registration:Free of cost
- Register here:https://forms.gle/omUae71jnwfrt9qj8
- Certificate Policy:Certificates will only be awarded to participants who attend the entire workshop.
This National Workshop will serve as a meaningful platform for re-imagining India’s food rights regime and strengthening accountability frameworks for the future.
For more information, please contact: cts@nluo.ac.in
