The Central Government has presented a major proposal for changing the ration distribution system implemented through Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), a welfare programme for providing food security to the country’s poorest families.
The current system provides an allotment of 35 Kgs of foodgrain per family per month irrespective of family size. But the central government is mulling a change in the distribution pattern to the per-person model in which the beneficiary would only be entitled to receive 7 kg of food grains a month.
The changes propose to link ration distribution to the members of a household. The objective of the move is to ensure right distribution of food grains and more accurately represent the requirement of individual families. The larger the household, the more food grains it could get than under the current program, and the smaller the household, the more change in household entitlement.
The government has drafted plans for the proposed changes, and it has requested the public and stakeholders’ comments. Until July 13th, suggestions and objections can be made; a decision will be made after the proposal is looked at.
One of the important food security programmes of the Government of India is the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) that helps millions of families in economically backward areas of the country. Any changes in its distribution network will make a significant difference in the beneficiaries and the public distribution system.
The scheme is at the consultation stage with the government likely to take public comments into account before making changes to the scheme.