Government's efforts tackle the problem of hunger and starvation

For tackling the problem of hunger and starvation in the country and to ensure that people living below poverty line get adequate food grains, the Government has been implementing the following schemes providing food grains at highly subsidized prices to the targeted population through the State/UT Governments: -

1. Government is allocating food grains at subsidized rates for 6.52 crore Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) ration card holder families under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS). Under this scheme, foodgrains are allocated to the States/UTs @ 35 kg per BPL/AAY family per month. Depending upon availability of food grains in the Central Pool, food grains are allocated for Above Poverty Line (APL) families also. Presently, allocations of food grains to APL category range from 15 to 35 Kg per family per month. During 2010-11, a quantity of 470.65 lakh tons of food grains have been allocated to States/U.Ts under TPDS .

2. Under Annapurna Scheme, indigent senior citizens of 65 years of age or above who are not getting old age pension, are provided 10 Kg of food grains per person per month free of cost. 57,760 tons of food grains have been allocated to States/UTs under the scheme during 2010-11.

3. Under the Emergency Feeding Programme (EFP) implemented in eight KBK Districts of Orissa, rice at BPL rates are allocated to the State Government for approximately 2 lakh beneficiaries in these districts. 18,000 tons of rice have been allocated under this scheme during 2010-11.

4. To provide safeguard against starvation during natural calamity and lean season, under the Village Grain Bank Scheme, foodgrains are allocated free of cost by Government of India to States. So far 20,148 Village Grains Banks have been sanctioned in 20 States and 80,592 tons of foodgrains have been allocated.

5. The Government also makes allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs under Mid Day Meal Scheme for providing food to school children studying in primary and upper primary levels. 29.85 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated under the scheme during 2010-11.

6. Under the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme aimed at improving the nutritional status of children below 6 years of age and expectant/lactating women, 15.00 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated during 2010-11.

7. Under the Scheme for Welfare Institutions, Government makes allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs for Welfare Institutions run by NGOs, charitable institutions, etc. 1.38 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated to various States/UTs during 2010-11.

8. Under the Scheme for SC/ST/OBC Hostels, Government makes allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs for meeting requirements of foodgrains of SC/ST/OBC Hostels. 0.50 lakh tons of foodgrains have been allocated to various States/UTs, during 2010-11.