Lok Sabha Question No. 874 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-23
Subject: Seva Bhoj Yojana
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: SANTOSH AHLAWAT, KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA, SUMEDHANAND SARASWATI, RANGASWAMY DHRUVANARAYANA, R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.874 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.07.2018

## SEVA BHOJ YOJNA

874:

SHRIMATI SANTOSH AHLAWAT:

SHRIMATI KAVITHA KALVAKUNTLA:

SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

SHRI R. DHRUVA NARAYANA AND SHRI R. PARTHIPAN :

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has introduced a new scheme namely 'SevaBhojYojna' for the religious  institutions,  temples,  mosques,  churches,  dargah,  Matth,  dharmik  ashram  and monasteries etc.;
- (b) if so, the details and salient features of the said scheme along withthe total budget outlay made thereunder;
- (c) whether the Government has formulated any additional rules/conditions to check mis-use of the said scheme; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) Yes Madam .

(b)The salient features of the Scheme are as follows:-

1. The  'Seva  Bhoj  Yojna'  is  a  Central  Sector  Scheme  under  which  Central  Goods  and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government's share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid by Charitable Religious Institutions like Temples, Gurudwara, Dharmik Ashram, Mosques, Dargah, Church, Matth, Monastries etc. on purchase of specific raw food  items  shall  be  reimbursed  to  them  as  financial  assistance  by  the  Government  of India.
2. 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.
3. 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.

The proposed total budget outlay of the scheme for the financial year 2018-19 and 201920 is Rs. 150.00 crores and Rs. 175.00 crores respectively.

- (c) Yes Madam.
- (d) As per the scheme guidelines, the Charitable Religious Institutions applying for financial assistance under the scheme are required to produce alongwith other relevant documents, a  certificate  from  District  Magistrate  indicating  that  the  institution  is  involved  in charitable  religious  activities  and  is  distributing  free  food  to  public/devotees  etc.  since last 3 years on daily/monthly basis. In addition to this, they are also required to produce Chartered Accountant's Certificate certifying (i) the quantity, price and  CGST, SGST/UGST and IGST paid on purchase of specified items during the claim period (ii) that  the  religious  institution  is  involved  in  religious  activities  and  specific  items  have been used only for distributing free food to public/devotees etc. during the claim period and (iii) the religious institution is using the specified raw food items only for distributing free food to public/devotees etc. during the claim period.

The  scheme  guidelines  also  provided  for  inspection  and  monitoring  by  the  Ministry Officials,  District  Collector/Deputy  Commissioner  and  State  (GST)  Authorities.  The Institutions/Organisations are required to maintain  separate  account for assistance received under the scheme and this account can be inspected/audited by the officers of the Ministry or any other agency designated by the Ministry. Further, in case of mis-use of funds, the  scheme  guidelines  provide for penalties such  as black listing the organisations,  recovering  the  assistance  provided  by  Ministry  of  Culture  with  penal interest apart from taking criminal action as per law.