The ‘Annapurna Food Packet Scheme’ launched by the Rajasthan government on 15 August 2023 under its public welfare programs will benefit around 1.10 crore people, including poor and destitute families involved during the Covid pandemic.
Main point
- Inaugurating the scheme, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced that apart from National Food Security Act (NFSA) families, free food packets would be given to poor families who had received assistance of ₹5,500 during the pandemic.
- Around 1.05 crore NFSA beneficiaries have registered themselves for the scheme at inflation relief camps.
- The state government will spend ₹4,500 crore annually on the implementation of the scheme.
- Eligible beneficiaries will get free Annapurna food packets every month from Fair Price Shops (FPS), for which the FPS will get a commission of ₹10 per packet.
- Shri Gehlot said that Annapurna Yojana would help in realizing his government’s resolve that “no one sleeps hungry in Rajasthan”.
- The Chief Minister said that it was the duty of an elected government to provide social security and run schemes for the welfare of the people.
Chief Minister Free Annapurna Food Packet Scheme
- This scheme was announced by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot during the budget session on 10 February 2023.
- Through this scheme, the state government is providing benefits to the people of poor families under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Features and benefits of the scheme
- Through this scheme, the poor will get relief from inflation and they will become self-reliant.
- Under the scheme, food items will be distributed free of cost to about 1.10 crore families of the state.
- By getting the benefits of this scheme, the poor families of the state will get rid of hunger and malnutrition.
- Social and food security will be provided to the citizens of Rajasthan under the Chief Minister Annapurna Food Packet Scheme.