Lok Sabha Question No. 322 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-18
Subject: Eligibility Criteria for availing Benefits under NFSA
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Patel Umeshbhai Babubhai

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AND MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI PRAT ,HAD JOSHI)

(a) to (e):

A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## ORIGINAL IN HINDI

## MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO.322 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2024

## ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA  FOR AVAILING  BENEFITS UNDER NFSA

## f 8322. SHRI PATEL UMESHBHAI BABUBFIAI:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION WIha wa,  am a{ aTd8ft% fBtWT IHT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the benefits defined/provided per person in  Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu under the National  Food Security Act  (NFS A);
- (b) the details of  eligibility criteria  fixed  for  availing  the benefits under the said Act  in the said UTs;
- (c) whether the Goverbment proposes to raise annual income eligibility limit  from  one lakh rupees to two lakh rupees in the said UTs to avail the benefits under the said Act;
- (d) if  so, the time by which the said annual income ceiling is likely  to be increased; and
- (e) if  not, the reasons therefor?

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE STARRED QUESTION NO. 322 FOR ANSWER ON 18.12.2024 IN THE LOK  SABHA.

- (a): Under the National Food Security Act, 2013. while Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains, per family per month, Priority Households (PHH) are entitled to 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, free of cost.

The Act  is being successnrlly implemented in the UT ofDadra  and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Dill.  In  Urban areas of Dadra and Nagar  Haveli  (Silvassa Municipal and Dadra Panchayat), the  Act  is  being  imrJlemenl.ed  in  Direct  Cash Transfer Mode  in  which  Cash equivalent to Food Subsidy (i.e. Rs. 43.28/- per Kg  for Rice and Rs. 28.44/- per Kg for Wheat) is provided directly  into the bank account of beneficiaries. In remaining part of the UT of D]\II&DD, the free of cost foodgrains are being distributed to the beneficiaries as per the details given below:

| Category of Beneficiaries   | Quantity of foodgrains (in kg)   | Quantity of foodgrains (in kg)   | Quantity of foodgrains (in kg)   |
|-----------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|
|                             | Rice                             | Wheat                            | Total                            |
| Flminram                    | 33.00                            | 2.00                             | 35.00                            |
| 'riority Households(PHII)   | 4.50                             | 0.50                             | 5.00                             |

- (b): The\_ Act  provides that the State Government shall, within  the ceiling of benefici,iries determined for the State, identify the households to be covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana to the extent specified by the Central Government, in accordance with the guidelines applicable to the said scheme and the remaining  households as priority  households to be covered under the Targeted Public  Distribution System, in  accordance with  such guidelines evolved by  the  State Government itself.  The  eligibility  criteria  for  identincation of beneficiaries in UT  of  Da(ira &  Nagar llaveli  and -Daman &  Dill  under the Act  is at Annexure.
- (c): As per the provisions of the .Act, the criteria  hr.  identificatjon  of PHU Households is evolved by the concerned States/UTs.
- (d) &  (e): Applicants  seeking food security  under Ihe Act  in-the UT  have been considered as per existinG criteria of  eligibility  and no  appliCation are pending. Since as per ceiling prescribed for. UT of DNH  & DD,  rnore person seeking food security can be accommodated but no demand of  such applicmrt is pending. In  2023-2024 total  1163 application  for new ration card were received and 1143 included as beneficiary under MSA approved. None was rejected on ground of incorne above one lakh rupees.

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  PART  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION  NO. 322  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON 18.12.2024 REGARDING 66ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR AVAILING BENEFITS UNDER NFSA99,

## Criteria  for identification  of Antyodaya Anna Yojana Households

The guidelines of Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)  scheme issued from time to time stipulated the following criteria for identification of AAY  households: -

- a) Landless agriculture labourers, marginal farmers, rural artisans /craftsmen, such as potters, tanners, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters, slum dwellers and persons earning their livelihood  on daily basis in the informal  sector like  porters, coolies, rickshaw pullers, hand cart pullers,  fruit  and  flower  sellers, snake charmers, rag pickers,  cobblers, destitute and other similar categories in both rural and urban areas.
- b) Households headed by widows or terminal]y ill persons/disabled  persons/ persons aged 60 years or more with  no assured means of subsistence or societal support.
- c) Widows  or terminally  ill  persons or  disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more or single women or single men with  no family  or societal support or assured means of subsistence.
- d) All  primitive tribal households.
- e) Eligible BPL families of HIV  positive persons.

## Criteria  for  identification  of priority  households (PHII)  under NFSA in  the UT of DNH&DD

| Inclusion Criteria                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            | IExclusion Criteria                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| ama:1 2. Socially and Occupationally Vulnerable Groups:- (a) All homeless households. (b) All households headed by a single woman (Unmarried / separated / deserted). (c) All Scheduled Tribes households. (d) All Scheduled Castes households. (e) All households of landless Agricultural labourers. (f) All households of farmers owning land up to 1.00 acres in the rural area and 900.00 Sq.Hs. (i.e.,83.61 Sq.mts.) in the Urban area in the U. T. ofDaman & Dill. (g) All households headed by a person registered as an unorganized labour under the provisions of the Unorganized Worker's Social Security Act, 2008 (33 of 2008) (h) Households of all other occupationally vulnerable groups like Fishermen, Rag- Pickers, unskilled construction workers, porters, casual daily wages labourers, casual domestic labourers, cycle rickshaw drivers, unskilled workers in small households enterprises, unskilled workers in household industries, Sweepers/ Sanitation workers, disabled persons etc. (i) Transgender. 3. All householdsliving in Kutcha Houses. | than Rs. 1.00.000/- I ' ' 12. Householdshaving an income tax payer. 3. Households where any member owns a light motor vehicle (Four-Wheeler) or heavy vehicle, except maximum one commercial vehicle for earning livelihood. 4. All Government employees (other than contractual/Daily Wagers) of Government of India, State Governments and Union Territories m its boards/Corporations/enterprises/ undertakings, other Autonomous bodies/ Authorities such as college, Municipal Councils, etc. |

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