Annapurna Scheme 2024-25: Old Age Solution, Benefits, Eligibility

Annapurna Scheme:- As a result, the program that the Ministry of Rural Development essentially created in 2000 and that will satisfy all senior citizen requirements will be the subject of our discussion in this article today. The plan is called the Annapurna Scheme 2024 and will be put into effect to benefit senior citizens who are 65 years of age or older. Consequently, it is advised that all applicants who would like to apply for this program and receive benefits read this article through to the end to learn about the requirements, benefits, features, and application process.

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Annapurna Scheme 2024

The Ministry of Rural Development launched the Old Age Scheme to give all elderly people access to feeding facilities. Pensioners would also benefit from this scheme. Therefore, those individuals who wish to take advantage of this chance but haven’t registered yet should register to do so. The eligible candidates will be selected via Gramme Sabha. When this program is put into action, food aid will be provided by the Gramme Panchayat to all of the selected beneficiaries.

Also Read:- Pradhan Mantri Dhan Laxmi Yojana 2024

Overview Details of Annapurna Scheme 2024

Name of the scheme	Annapurna Scheme
Launched by	Ministry of Rural Development
Beneficiaries	Old age group
Aim	To provide food assistance to all the old age people
Category	Scheme
Official website	Given below

Objective of the Annapurna Scheme

This program’s primary goal is to give food assistance to all senior adults (over 65) who are unable to afford nutritious food for their health. As it is common knowledge, children today are unable to care for their aging parents or grandparents as well as their health. With this in mind, the ministry launched this helpful program. With the help of this program, residents who are now receiving pensions but who, for whatever reason, are unable to do so will be able to get food assistance and self-help.

Features of the Annapurna Scheme

This program is essentially a sector scheme that is a part of the National Social Assistance Programme.
Following the implementation of this policy, the state will provide food assistance to all elderly individuals.
The target audience for this campaign is older persons without access to old-age pension schemes; these individuals will be the beneficiaries.
The State Departments of Food and Civil Supplies will receive the funding for this initiation in a single installment.
To send the district’s food grain directly to the FCI Regional Offices, the State Government works with the Food Corporation of India. The State Government then allows the food grain to the districts based on the property’s location.
According to present legislation, food grains are provided to state governments at BPL rates. The funds from the system are allocated to the state plan as Additional Central Support (ACA) by the Treasury. The states have flexibility in selecting beneficiaries and implementing the program.

Annapurna Scheme Eligibility

Senior persons who are over 65 years old are qualified for this program.
If the aspirant is destitute and has no source of money, they are qualified for this initiation.
Applicants cannot be National Old Age Pension Scheme pensioners.

Also Read:- PMVVY Scheme

The three major eligibility criteria include:

The candidate’s age should not be lower than 65.
The candidate needs to be living in abject poverty and without a steady source of income.
No state or federal pension scheme will allow the applicants to be pensioners.

Gramme Panchayats, if we oversee its execution, are in charge of disseminating information about the steps involved in obtaining benefits under the program. Gramme Sabha chooses who receives benefits. Municipalities, however, are responsible for carrying it out.

Together with the State Government and Food Corporation of India, the District Collector and Zila Panchayats will distribute the quantitative entitlements.

Implementation of the Annapurna Scheme

The Ministry of Rural Development launched this program in 2000 to provide food aid to the elderly population in the state. It would benefit those who are underprivileged and unable to pay for wholesome dining establishments. Additionally, this program is exclusively available to senior citizens who are over 65. Both men and women are eligible to participate in this program.

The provisions of the scheme

Under this plan, persons who are over 65 and have little to no means of subsistence are eligible to receive 10 kg of food grains for free each month. The National Old Age Pension is due to 52215 people, or 20% of the population, but for a variety of reasons they do not receive it. This is the objective that the Indian government established.
The center support pattern was modified in 2002–2003, even though the plan was first presented as a center Sector Scheme.
Currently, the scheme is receiving more central backing, and the State Government is required to match the funding from 2000–01.

Shortcomings of the Annapurna Scheme

However, it raises doubts about whether the plan will succeed or fail.

Despite being a marginalized minority, SC/ST, OBC, and those with special needs do not receive any particular advantages.
Whether the recipients chosen by the Gramme Sabha are the ones who actually require the grains is the second question that the plan did not attempt to answer. Do they meet every requirement for eligibility?
Strict aspects of Indian politics continue to be caste, gender, and religion. In rural India, prejudice based on gender, caste, and religion is still evident, thus the real beneficiary may face discrimination on these grounds.
However, if we take a positive approach, we can see that developing and implementing a strategy is a laborious process overseen by experienced professionals. A scheme functions in a manner akin to that of a law, particularly in the Indian context.
We are unable to predict its outcome or success rate unless we put it into practice on a ground level.
Much like on a school report card, the high-scoring subjects are viewed as assets to be safeguarded, while the low-scoring subjects take the stage as they develop.
The Government of India purchased a good idea that is the basis of the Annapurna plan. Many Indian states have changed this approach to suit their distinct socioeconomic geography; to apply, please visit the relevant State Government Portals.

Also Read:- PMEGP Scheme List 2024

FAQ’s

Q. What is the plan for Annapurna?

Asn- Under this program, persons who are over 65 and have little to no means of subsistence are eligible to receive 10 kg of food grains for free each month.

Q. Has there been a merger between the Annapurna and?

Ans- The Annapurna Scheme came into effect on April 1, 2000. Its goal is to supply food security to elderly individuals who qualify but have not yet received benefits from the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS). Combining the two techniques has allowed for more efficient execution.

Q. What is the Annapurna scheme’s maximum loan amount?

Ans- Under this, the Indian government provides loans up to Rs. 50,000 to women entrepreneurs operating food catering firms. Tiffin boxes, utensils, a working table, a mixer/grinder, and hot cases are a few examples of items for which the borrowed funds could be used to pay for working capital needs.

@PAY

Annapurna Scheme 2024-25: Old Age Solution, Benefits, Eligibility & Features