Lok Sabha Question No. 1814 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Selection of Beneficiaries under Annapoorna Scheme
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri N K Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1814

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025

## SELECTION OF BENEFICIARIES UNDER ANNAPOORNA SCHEME

## 1814. SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to relax the conditions  for  selecting the beneficiaries of Annapoorna scheme;

- (b) if  so, the details thereof and if  not, the reasons therefor;

- (c) whether the Government consider the request of Government of Kerala to exempt the conditions that the beneficiaries  are not included in  any of the social welfare pension scheme so as to entitle  the benefits ofArmapoorna  and if  so, the details of action taken thereon;

- (d) whether it comes to the notice of the Union  Government that the deserving poor and eligible families in Kerala is not included in the beneficiary list of Annapoorna due to the aforesaid condition;

- (e) if  so, the action  taken by the Union  Government to  provide  the benefit to  all  deserving poor and needed families; and

- (f) whether the Union  Government analysed the social welfare pension is meager and not sufficient to ensure food security and if so, the action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (b): Existing  eligibility criteria,  coverage and rate of assistance under National  Social Assistance Programme (NS AP)  schemes including  that of  Annapurnna  scheme are approved for  a period upto 2025-26. At  present, there is no proposal under consideration to revise the criteria under NS AP schemes

(c) to (e): Annapurna  Scheme, a  demand driven  sub-scheme of  NS AP,  is  aimed  at providing  food security to meet the requirement of those senior citizens who, though eligible, have remained uncovered under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)  under NS AP. Under the Scheme, 10 kgs of food grains per month is provided free of cost to the beneficiary. As per guidelines of NS AP, the States/UTs are responsible for identification of beneficiaries  as per the stipulated eligibility  criteria.

With the implementation of National Food Security Act, 2013, the lifting  of food grains under the Annapurna scheme has shown a declining trend since 2016-17 and there has been no demand since FY  2021-22 from States including Kerala. Moreover, most of the States also implement similar old  age pension schemes which may cover the eligible old age persons beyond the state ceiling under IGNOAPS.

(f): Based on various recommendations and evaluation studies, a proposal for revamp of NS AP, which inter-alia included revision in eligibility criteria, rate of assistance and sharing arrangement with  the States was considered during continuation of NS AP for the 15th Finance Commission cycle  (2021-26). However,  considering the  available financial  space, the Government has approved continuation of NS AP schemes in its present  form.

As per guidelines of NS AP, the State/UTs are encouraged to provide top up amount of at least equivalent to  the assistance provided by  the Central Govt. so that  the beneficiaries could  get  a decent  level of  assistance.  At  present,  the  States/UTs are  adding top  up  amounts ranging from  Rs. 50 to  Rs. 5700 per month per beneficiaries under Pension Schemes of NSAP schemes. As a result, on an average,  the NS AP beneficiaries are receiving satisfactory monthly pension of Rs. 1100/- per month in several States.

$888