Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)

- In order to make TPDS more focused and targeted towards the poorest section of population, the 'Antyodaya Anna Yojana' (AAY) was launched in December 2000 for one crore poor families.
- Initially AAY contemplated identification of one crore poorest of the poor families from amongst the BPL families covered underTPDS within the States and providing them foodgrains at a highly subsidised rate of Rs. 2 per kg for wheat and Rs. 3 per kg for rice.
- The States/UTs are required to bear the distribution, cost, including margin to dealers and retailers as well as the transportation cost. Thus the entire food subsidy is being passed on to the consumers under the scheme.
- The scale of issue that was initially 25 kg per family per month has been increased to 35 kg per family per month with effect from 1st April, 2002.
- The AA Y Scheme has been expanded in subsequent years and presently it is covering 2·50 crore households.
Annapurna Scheme
- The Ministry of Rural Development launched this scheme in 2000-01. Indigent senior citizens of 65 years of age or above who are not getting pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) are covered 10 kg of foodgrains per person per month are supplied free of cost under the scheme.
- From 2002-03, it has been transferred to State Plan along with the National Social Assistance Programme comprising the National Old Age Pension Scheme and National Family Benefit Scheme. The implementation of the scheme at the state level rests with the respective States/UTs.
- The foodgrains for this scheme are released to the state Governments at BPL rates.
Village Grain Bank Scheme
- Village Grain Bank Scheme was earlier implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 11 States. However, since 24.11.2004, the scheme is being implemented by the Department of Food and Public Distribution.
- The main objective of the scheme presently being implemented is to provide safeguard against starvation during the period of natural calamity or during lean season when the marginalized food insecure households do not have sufficient resources to purchase rations.
- Such people in need of foodgrains will be able to borrow foodgrains from the Village Grain Bank.
- The grain banks are to be set up in food areas like the drought prone areas, the hot and cold desert areas, tribal areas and the inaccessible hilly areas which remain cut off because of natural calamities like floods, etc.
- These villages are to be identified by the concerned State Government/Union Territory. The scheme envisages inclusion of BPLlAAY families in the villages to be identified by the State Government in food deficit areas.
- The quantity to be lent and the period of repayment is to be decided by the Group themselves.
- Village Panchayat/Gram Sabha, Self Help Group for NGOs etc. identified by the State Government are eligible for running the Grain Banks.