Lok Sabha Question No. 18 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-04
Subject: Transparency in Utilisation of Funds under Seva Bhoj Yojana
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 18 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 th DECEMBER, 2023

## TRANSPARENCY IN UTILISATION OF FUNDS UNDER SEVA BHOJ YOJANA

## 18. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the MINISTER OF CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the  Government has taken any steps to ensure transparency and accountability  in  the utilization of funds granted under the Seva Bhoj Yojana;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  mechanism  to  enforce  penalties  in  instances  of  misuse  of assistance/grant;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken against entities found to violate the said scheme's guidelines; and
- (e) the details of the CGST and IGST reimbursed by the Government since the implementation of the scheme, State-wise and year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE, TOURISM AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN REGION

## (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a)&(b)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 tothese Charitable/Religious Institutions.
- (c)&(d)Yes Sir. The extant Seva Bhoj Yojana guidelines provide that  the members of the executive body of the entity /institution would be liable for recovery of misused grants. The organization /institution  will  also  be  blacklisted  for  misuse  of  funds,  fake  registration  certificate,  fake documents etc. All immovable and movable assets created from the Government grants would be taken  over  by  local  administration  prescribed  by  the  Ministry.  The  assistance  provided  by  the Ministry of Culture shall be recovered with penal interest, apart from taking criminal action as per law. However, no such instance of misuse of assistance /grant by any entity has come to the notice of the Government so far.
- (e)  The details of the CGST and IGST reimbursed by the Government since the implementation of the scheme, State-wise and year-wise is Annexed.

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Annexure Annexure referred to in reply to Part (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 18 due for answer on 04-12-2023

## Details of fund reimbursed State-wise and year-wise under the Seva Bhoj Yojana:

(Rs. in lakh)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT       | 2019-2020     | 2019-2020   | 2020-2021     | 2020-2021   | 2021-22       | 2021-22   | 2022-23       | 2022-23   | 2023-24 (as on 29-11-2023)   | 2023-24 (as on 29-11-2023)   |
|-----------|----------------|---------------|-------------|---------------|-------------|---------------|-----------|---------------|-----------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|           |                | Nos. of Orgs. | Amount      | Nos. of Orgs. | Amount      | Nos. of Orgs. | Amount    | Nos. of Orgs. | Amount    | Nos. of Orgs.                | Amount                       |
| 1.        | Punjab         | 01            | 171.00      | 03            | 169.00      | 03            | 154.00    | 03            | 143.00    | 2                            | 146.00                       |
| 2.        | Andhra Pradesh | 02            | 24.90       | --            | --          | -             | --        | -             | -         | -                            | -                            |
|           | Total          | 03            | 195.90      | 03            | 169.00      | 03            | 154.00    | 03            | 143.00    | 2                            | 146.00                       |