Question

Which one of the following States decided to merge Annashree Yojana in the National Food Security Scheme in March, 2014?
1. Madhya Pradesh
2. West Bengal
3. Delhi
4. Bihar

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Delhi

The correct answer is Delhi.

• Annashree Yojana
  • The scheme, which was announced in the Budget 2012-13, was launched on December 15, 2012.
  • It envisages providing Rs. 600 per month as Direct Benefit Transfer to Aadhar-enabled bank accounts of the senior-most female members of the most vulnerable families not covered under the PDS.
  • The Delhi Cabinet approved the inclusion of widows under the ‘Dilli Annashree Yojana’ and has permitted the Vigilance Committees headed by MLAs to recommend up to 500 cases for enrolment under the scheme.
  • The scheme would continue even after July 3 in order to continue supplementing those vulnerable families not covered under the public distribution system.
  • It also allowed the Vigilance Committees of the Food and Civil Supplies Department under the chairmanship of the MLAs to recommend a maximum of 500 cases for enrolment under the scheme as per criteria already approved by the Cabinet.

• National Food Security Scheme
  • The National Development Council (NDC) in its 53rd meeting held on 29th May 2007.
  • It adopted a resolution to launch a Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat, and pulses to increase the annual production of rice by 10 million tonnes, wheat by 8 million tonnes, and pulses by 2 million tonnes by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12).
  • Accordingly, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, National Food Security Mission (NFSM), was launched in October 2007.
  • The Mission met with an overwhelming success and achieved the targeted additional production of rice, wheat, and pulses.
  • The Mission continued during the 12th Five Year Plan with new targets of additional production of food grains of 25 million tonnes of food grains comprising of 10 million tonnes rice, 8 million tonnes of wheat, 4 million tonnes of pulses and 3 million tonnes of coarse cereals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.