Lok Sabha Question No. 935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Religious Institutions benefitted under the Seva Bhoj Yojana
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.935 ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS BENEFITTED UNDER SEVA BHOJ YOJANA

## 935.    SHRI ARUN BHARTI:

## Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the details along with number of charitable and religious institutions have been benefitted under the Seva Bhoj Yojana as of January 2025, State-wise;
- (b) the details along with number of individuals have been benefitted indirectly through the free meals provided under the Seva Bhoj Yojana-supported initiatives;
- (c) the  steps  taken  or  mechanism  are  in  place  to  ensure  transparency  and  accountability  in  the application and reimbursement process under the aforementioned scheme;
- (d) the  details  of  the  steps  being  taken  to  raise  awareness  about  the  Seva  Bhoj  Yojana  among charitable and religious organizations across the country;
- (e) the details of the steps taken to ensure that all religions and communities are equitably represented among the beneficiary organizations under the aforementioned scheme; and
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  taken  steps  to  simplify  the  application  process  and  ensure  faster reimbursements under the aforementioned scheme, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a)  Seva Bhoj Yojana was launched by the Ministry of Culture in August, 2018. Under the Seva Bhoj Yojana,  Central  Goods  and  Services  Tax  (CGST)  and  Central  Government's  share  of  Integrated Goods  and  Services  Tax  (IGST)  paid  on  purchase  of  specific  raw  food  items  by  the  eligible Charitable/Religious  Institutions  for  distributing  free  food  to  atleast  5000  people  in  a  calendar month are  reimbursed  to  these  organizations  by  the  Government  of  India  through  the  concerned GST Authority.  The  State-wise  details  of  the  charitable  and  religious  institutions  that  have  been benefitted under the Seva Bhoj Yojana as of January, 2025 are Annexed .
- (b)  As per the guidelines of Seva Bhoj Yojana, a Certificate from District Magistrate indicating that the Charitable/Religious Institution is involved in Charitable/Religious activities and is distributing free food  to  public/devotees  etc.  since  last  three  years  at  least  on  daily/monthly  basis  is  mandatorily required, as one of the eligibility criteria, for these institutions in order to get enrolled on the CSMS Portal of the Ministry of Culture. However, the details of individuals benefitted indirectly through the  free  meals  are  not  sought  by  the  Ministry  while  providing  the  benefit  of  reimbursement,  as mentioned at Sl. No. (a) above under the Seva Bhoj Yojana from Charitable /Religious Institutions.
- (c)  Under the Seva Bhoj Yojana, Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government's share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid on purchase of specific raw food items by the eligible Charitable/Religious Institutions for distributing free food to public are reimbursed to these  organizations  by  the  Government  of  India  through  the  concerned  GST  Authority.  The following procedure is adopted to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilization of funds granted under the Seva Bhoj Scheme:-

(i) Upon registration  with  NGO  Darpan  Portal  of  NITI  Aayog,    the  Charitable/Religious Institutions enrol and submit their application in CSMS Portal of the Ministry of Culture.

(ii) After enrolment with the Ministry of Culture, the applicant submits its application along with a copy of the registration certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture to the Nodal Central Tax Officer in their concerned State/UT.

(iii) The Nodal Central Tax Officer on receipt of the application and registration certificate generates a Unique Identity Number (UIN).

(iv) Thereafter, the concerned GST Authority forward the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government's share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) claims verified  and  passed  by  them  in  respect  of  the  eligible  Charitable/Religious  Institutions  to  the Ministry for releasing the same.

- (v) The Ministry provides fund to the concerned GST Authority who further reimburses to these Charitable/Religious Institutions.
- (d)&(e)    It has been the constant endeavour of the Ministry to promote all the schemes including Seva Bhoj Yojana and raise its awareness through various platforms viz. website of the Ministry, social media  platforms  etc.  so  that  benefit  of  the  scheme  reaches  to  various  types  of eligible Charitable/Religious organizations situated across the country thereby leading to equitable representation of all religions and communities as the beneficiaries of the scheme.
- (f) The application and reimbursement process as mentioned at Sl. No. (c) above already ensures ease and faster reimbursement to the eligible Charitable/Religious Institutions.

*****

## Annexure

## Annexure referred to in Reply to Part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 935 due for 10-02-2025

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   | Name of Organizations                                     | State          |   (Rs.in lakhs) Fund Released |
|-----------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-------------------------------|
|         1 | 2019-2020        | Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar | Punjab         |                        171    |
|         1 | 2019-2020        | Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati                  | Andhra Pradesh |                         19.63 |
|         1 | 2019-2020        | Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust, Tirupati             | Andhra Pradesh |                          5.27 |
|         2 | 2020-2021        | Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)           | Punjab         |                        159.39 |
|         2 | 2020-2021        | Dreams & Beauty Charitable Trust, Ludhiana                | Punjab         |                          1.22 |
|         2 | 2020-2021        | Durgiana Temple, Amritsar                                 | Punjab         |                          8.84 |
|         3 | 2021-2022        | Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)           | Punjab         |                        149.83 |
|         3 | 2021-2022        | Dreams & Beauty Charitable Trust, Ludhiana                | Punjab         |                          0.28 |
|         3 | 2021-2022        | Durgiana Temple, Amritsar                                 | Punjab         |                          4.81 |
|         4 | 2022-2023        | Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)           | Punjab         |                        140.44 |
|         4 | 2022-2023        | Dreams & Beauty Charitable Trust, Ludhiana                | Punjab         |                          0.8  |
|         4 | 2022-2023        | Durgiana Temple, Amritsar                                 | Punjab         |                          1.76 |
|         5 | 2023-2024        | Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)           | Punjab         |                        142.12 |
|         5 | 2023-2024        | Durgiana Temple, Amritsar                                 | Punjab         |                          3.88 |

*****