The Ministry of Rural Development has been chosen as the Nodal Ministry to implement the Scheme. The Scheme has been launched w.e.f. 1^st April, 2000.

    The "Annapurna Scheme" had been announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech for the year 1999-2000 to provide food security to those indigent senior citizens who are not covered under the targeted Public Distribution System (PDS) and who have no income of their own. Through the new "Annapurna" scheme, it is intended to provide 10 kgs. of foodgrains per month free of cost to all such person who are though eligible for old age pension under NOAPS, are presently not receiving it. The number of persons benefiting from the Scheme are not to exceed for the present 20% of the old age pensioners within a State. The Gram Panchayat would be required to identify, prepare and display a list of such persons after giving wide publicity to the Scheme.

    The National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), which was launched in 1995, provides pension at the rate of Rs.75/- per month to destitute aged 65 years and above. However, all indigent senior citizens are not covered under the scheme. The Annapurna Scheme aims at providing food security to such indigent senior citizens who though eligible for old age pensions remain uncovered under NOAPS, by providing 10 kgs. of foodgrains per month free of cost.

    The total number of beneficiaries during 2000-2001 for National Old Age Pension Scheme in the country is worked out at approximately 68.81 lakh. This would imply that 13.76 lakh beneficiaries would be eligible for coverage under the "Annapurna" Scheme. An amount of Rs.100 crores has been provided in the Budget for 2000-2001 for the Scheme. Thus during the year 664669 persons only can be covered under the Scheme.

    Out of the total BE of Rs.100 crores during 2000-2001 for "Annapurna" scheme. Rs.99,04,76,190/- has been allocated to the States/UTs. Out of this allocation, Rs.49,78,43,696/- has already been released to 11 States, namely, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and Pondicherry. The allocated fund to the remaining States/UTs will be released as soon as the required Bank Account Nos. to facilitate remittance are intimated to the Ministry.