Indira Amma Bhojanalya
Category: Social welfare & Empowerment, Women and Child
Level: State | State: Uttarakhand

Details:
The scheme &quot;Indira Amma Bhojanalaya&quot; was introduced by the Rural Development Department, Government of Uttarakhand, aims to arrange and operate cheap food canteens in the state.  The primary objective of the scheme is to provide nutritious and affordable food to the poor and needy sections of society and to economically strengthen rural women&#39;s self-help groups (SHGs) by providing continuous income-generating employment through the operation of these canteens. The canteens are operated by women&#39;s self-help groups under the supervision and control of the Chief Development Officer (CDO). The canteens will be established in the headquarters of each district.

Benefits:
1. Nutritious and affordable food at subsidized rates.
2.
 Subsidized Rates: 
The consumer pays ₹25/- per plate in hilly areas.
The consumer pays ₹20/- per plate in Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and Nainital districts.
A subsidy of ₹10/- per plate is borne by the State Government.
3. The Urban Development Authority, Municipal Corporation, or Municipality provides free space, furniture, and other essential resources required for the operation of the canteen.
4. Uttarakhand Power Corporation and Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan provide electricity and water, respectively, free of cost.
5. The arrangement of fuel/LPG gas for running the canteen is made through the District Supply Officer.
6.
 
Provides continuous income-generating employment, leading to economic strengthening for women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Conditions:
Maximum 1,200 plates of food are to be provided per day in high-population districts like Dehradun, Haridwar, and Udham Singh Nagar.
A maximum of 800 plates of food are to be provided per day in other districts.
Canteens opened solely for employees within office premises are not eligible for subsidy.
The State Government reserves the right to determine future subsidies based on the canteen's annual income or profit.
Canteens aiming to become self-sustainable will continue to receive facilitator support from the State Government.

Eligibility Criteria:
1. The applicant should be a women Self-Help Group (SHG) formed according to the guiding principles of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM).
   1. Self-Help Groups (SHGs) formed as per NRLM guidelines that are actively functioning and have received the minimum Revolving Fund (RF) — either under the restructured SGSY scheme or directly under NRLM, if not previously covered under SGSY — shall be eligible to operate the canteen.
   1.  In urban areas, self-help groups (SHGs) under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) are also eligible to operate Indira Amma Canteens. The Rural Development Department provides grants to support these groups in running the canteens.

***Notes:***__ 

  - It is essential for self-help groups to maintain complete records of beneficiaries, including their names and places of residence, to ensure transparency and prevent any irregularities in receiving contributions provided by the state government.
  - SHGs formed under NRLM guidelines and having received the Community Investment Fund (CIF) or a Micro Credit Plan specifically for operating an Indira Amma Canteen will be given preference.
  - The tenure of operation of State Government funded/aided canteens operating in Municipal Corporation areas shall be maximum of 01 year and thereafter they will be eligible to operate the canteen again only after a period of 02 years.
  - Except Municipal Corporation areas, the tenure of operation of canteens funded/aided by the State Government in other institutions/offices/bodies etc. will be maximum 02 years. Thereafter, they will be eligible to operate the canteen again only after a period of 04 years.