(a) whether the Government is taking any steps to further expand the Antyodya Anna Yojana
(AAY) by including more poor families and set up grain banks particularly in chronically food
scarce and inaccessible areas; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b): Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), focused on the poor, aims at
distributing subsidized foodgrains to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in all rural as well
as urban areas in the country.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), a sub set of TPDS covers the poorest families among BPL category
in all rural areas and urban areas. AAY was launched in December, 2000 for one crore poorest
of the poor families among Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. Subsequently, this scheme has
been expanded thrice to cover additional 50 lakh families each time.
Identification of eligible BPL and AAY families and issuance of ration cards to these families
is the responsibilities of the concerned State/UT Governments. State/UT Governments have
identified and issued ration cards to 2.43 crore AAY families.
For these 2.43 crore AAY families, foodgrains are allocated to all States & UTs @ 35 kg per
family per month at a highly subsidized prices of Rs.2/- per kg for wheat and Rs.3/- per kg
for rice .
There is no proposal to further expand the AAY.
Village Grain Bank scheme (VGB) was earlier implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in
11 States. Since 24.11.2004, the VGB Scheme is being implemented by the Department of Food
and Public Distribution. The main objective of the Scheme is to provide safeguard against
starvation during periods of natural calamity or lean season when marginalized food insecure
households do not have sufficient resources to purchase rations. The Grain Banks are to be
set up in food scarce 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 flood, etc.
The scheme envisages inclusion of willing BPL/AAY families as members of the VGB in villages to
be identified by the State Govt. in food deficit areas. Village Panchayat/Gram Sabha, Self
Help Group or NGOs, etc, identified by the State Govt. are eligible for running the Grain
Banks. The quantity of foodgrains to be lent, period of repayment, etc. are to be decided by
the managing committee of the VGB.
Since 2005-06 Government has sanctioned Rs.121.39 crore for setting up 18506 village grains
banks in 20 states.