OBJECTIVE

Antyodaya Anna yojana has been launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India on the 25th December,2000. This scheme reflects the commitment of the Government of India to ensure food security for all create a hunger free India in the next five years and to reform and improve the Public Distribution System so as to serve the poorest of the poor in rural and urban areas. It is for the poorest of poor that the Antyodya Anna Yojana has been conserved. It is estimated that 5% of population are unable to get two square meals a day on a sub stained basis through out the year. Their purchasing power is so low that they are not in a position to buy food grains round the year even at BPL rates. It is this 5% of out population (5 crores of people or 1 crore families) which constitutes the target group of Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

SCALE AND ISSUE PRICE

Antyodaya Anna Yojana contemplates identification of one crore families out of the number of BPL families who would be provided food grains at the rate of 35 Kg per family per month. The food grains will be issued by the Government of India @ Rs.2/- per Kg for wheat and Rs. 3/- per Kg for rice. The Government of India suggests that in view of abject poverty of this group of beneficiaries, the State Government may ensure that the end retail price is retained at Rs.2/-per Kg for wheat and Rs.3/- per Kg. for rice.

IDENTIFICATION OF BENEFICIARIES

The most crucial element for ensuring the success of Antyodaya Anna Yojana is the correct identification of Antyodaya families. It is estimated that there are 6.52 crore families below poverty line in the country as on 01-03-2000. These families are being provided food grains under the TPDS at highly subsidised rates. One crore Antyodaya families would constitute about 15.33% of the BPL families in the country. The identification of these families will have to be carried out by the State Government/UT administrations, from amongst the number of BPL families within the state.

The following steps are suggested for identification of Antyodaya families.

(a) The number of Antyodaya families has been indicated for each State/Ut. The State/UT may, in turn, distribute this number among the various districts. Keeping in view the incidence of poverty and backwardness etc for which primary data would be available with the States UTs from various sources.
(b) Similarly, in the districts the number of Antyodaya families can again be distributed among various Panchayats and the municipal areas.
(c) District Collectors may then start the process of identification after giving it wide publicity. This work may be taken up as a campaign so that people are aware of the process and procedure adopted for identification of beneficiaries under the scheme.
(d) District Collectors may press into service all district level officers working with them for supervising the process of identification in various Development Blocks.
(e) At the Block level, each Panchayat may be assigned to an Officer of Revenue, Development of some other Department who should be held accountable for proper identification of beneficiaries.
(f) In each Panchayat , in the first phase, a tentative list of the poorest of the poor may be drawn up keeping in view the overall number of the families allotted to the Panchayat.
(g) The State Government/UT Administration may devise a suitable form for identifying the beneficiary families under the scheme. the data contained in the form should be verified by the Officer nominated for this purpose. The Officer verifying should be held accountable for the verification.
(h) Once the tentative list for a Panchayat is ready, in the second phase, a meeting of the Gram Sabha may be held. This meeting should be attended by the Officer, who has been assigned the particular Panchayat. The officer should ensure that the meeting of gram Sabha is held when there is quorum.
(i) The tentative list may be read-out in the meeting of the Gram Sabha and the Gram Sabha may finalise the list of beneficiaries and arrange the names in the order of priority with the family mentioned at Sl.No.1 as the most deserving.
(j) Once the list is approved by the Gram Sabha, it may be consolidated at the Bloch and then at the District level.
(k) In the case of urban areas the State Government/UT Administration may also undertake a similar exercise by involving the urban Local Bodies. The Preliminary identification may be downward-wise by the Chief Executive of the Urban Local Body with the help of the officers/officials working under him. The Preliminary list of beneficiaries may be given wide publicity and also displayed at the Ward Level inviting objections. After going through this process, the consolidated list for the Urban Local Body and its approval obtained.  In case where elected bodies in rural/urban areas are not in position, the State Government/UT Administration may evolve a suitable mechanism for identification of beneficiaries in an impartial and objective manner.

ISSUE OF RATION CARDS

After the identification of Antyodaya families, distinctive ration cards to be known a "Antyodaya Ration Card" should be issued to the Antyodaya families by the designated authority. The ration card should have the necessary details about the Antyodaya family, scale of ration etc.

Where and how to apply?

As this scheme is for poorest of the poor families so the person have to contact 

1. For Rural Area: The person living in rural area have to apply on a plan paper with details of his family members income etc. to  the Panchayat Pradhan  of his area for this scheme. Gram Sabha will decide whether the family is eligible to be  taken under the Scheme or not. After the selection of families the list will be further approved by the  Department of Rural Development, Himachal Pradesh and the Ration Card will be issued by the Pradhan /DFSC or after the approval of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.

2. For Urban Area: The person living in the urban area will have to apply on plan paper to Notified Area Committee. After the selection of the families the list will be further approved by the Urban Development Department  and Card will be issued by Concerned DFSC/ Authorised Inspector of that area.

Supporting Documents

1.Deletion Certificate or the Certificate to the effect that the applicant was not holding any ration card previously. The affidavit to this effect from the applicant that he didn’t hold any ration card previously must be submitted.   
2.The income certificate of the family to be issued by the concerned  Patwari of that area. Forms to be filled
No form to be filled

Fee

No fee will be charged