Lok Sabha Question No. 3612 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-15
Subject: Seva Bhoj Yojana
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Sudheer Gupta, Bidyut Baran Mahato, (Dr.) Ram Shankar Katheria, P.P. Chaudhary, Pratima Bhoumik, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3612 TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.07.2019

## SEVA BHOJ YOJANA

## 3612:  SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

## SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

## DR. RAM SHANKAR KETHERIA:

## SHRIP.P. CHAUDHARY:

## SHRIMATI PRATIMA BHOMIK:

## SHRIRAVI KISHAN:

## SHRIGAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

## SHRISANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK :

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Ministry  has  launched  a  scheme  of  financial  assistance  under  the  Seva Bhoj Yojana in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the objectives of the scheme and the details of the activities proposed to be supported under the scheme;
- (c) the details of the criteria for financial assistance as well as the quantum of assistance to various  Institutes  and  State  Governments/UTs  to  be  provided  under  the  scheme, Institute and State/ UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has received any proposal to provide more assistance and to increase the food items registered under the scheme; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE ANDTOURISM (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

- (b) Seva Bhoj Yojna is a Central Sector Scheme for providing reimbursement of CGST and Central Government's share of IGST paid by charitable/religious institutions  on purchase of specific raw food items for serving free food to public / devotees.

The specific raw food items covered under the Scheme are (i) Ghee (ii) Edible Oil (iii) Sugar/Burra/Jaggery(iv) Rice (v) Atta/Maida/Rava/Flour and (vi) Pulses.

Under the scheme of Seva Bhoj Yojna, the financial assistance will be provided for free 'prasad' or free food or free 'langar' / 'bhandara' (community kitchen) offered by charitable/religious institutions like Gurudwara, Temples, Dharmik Ashram, Mosques, Dargah, Church, Math, Monasteries etc.

These Charitable Religious Institutions should have been distributing free food in the form of 'prasad', 'langar'/bhandara (community kitchen) to at least 5000 persons in a calendar month for at least past 3 years.

## (c)CRITERIA FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

A  Public  Trust  or  society  or  body  corporate,  or  organisation  or  institution  covered under the provisions of section 10 (23BBA) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (as amended from time to time) or registered under the provisions of section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for charitable/religious purposes, or a company formed and registered under  the  provisions  of  section  8  of  the  Companies  Act,  2013  or  section  25  of  the Companies  Act,  1956,  as  the  case  may  be,  for  charitable/  religious  purposes,  or  a Public Trust registered as such for charitable/religious purposes under any Law for the time being in force, or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, for charitable/religious purposes can apply under Seva Bhoj Yojna.

- ii)  The  applicant  Public  Trust  or  society  or  body  corporate,  or  organisation  or institution,  as  the case  may  be,  must be involved in charitable/religious  activities  by way of free and philanthropic distribution of food/prasad/langar(Community Kitchen)/ bhandara  free  of  cost  and  without  discrimination  through  the  modus  of  public, charitable/religious trusts or endowments including maths, temples, gurdwaras, wakfs, churches, synagogues, agiaries or other places of public religious worship.
- iii)  The institutions/organizations should have been distributing free food, langar and prasad to atleast 5000 persons in a calendar month can apply under the scheme.
- iv)  Financial  Assistance  under  the  scheme  shall  be  given  only  to  those  institutions which are not in receipt of any Financial Assistance from the Central/State Government for the purpose of distributing free food.
- v) The Institution/Organization blacklisted under the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) or under the provisions of any Act/Rules of the Central/State shall not be eligible for financial assistance under the scheme.

## QUANTUM OF ASSISTANCE:

Financial  Assistance  in  the  form  of  reimbursement  shall  be  provided  where  the institution has already paid GST on all or any of the raw food items listed below:

- i) Ghee
2. ii) Edible oil
3. iii) Sugar / Burra / Jaggery
4. iv) Rice
- v) Atta / Maida / Rava /Flour
6. vi) Pulses
7. (d) No Sir.
8. (e) Does not arise.

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