What is aay yojna

Poor and poorest

Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is one of the biggest initiatives undertaken by the Government of India. It is a public distribution system scheme that was implemented in India in 2000. The main purpose of the system is to provide food security to the people and to end hunger in India. It covers the poorest of the poor in our country through the supply of food and essential commodities for their daily needs at subsidized rates. It was implemented first in the Rajasthan State. AAY was developed by the then Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister, N Sri Vishnu. Those who are undertaking the UPSC exam should study this topic in detail. Candidates can visit the linked article and get the detailed list of government schemes in India, important for general awareness and current affairs section of various competitive exams. The main intended beneficiaries of AAY are the persons who are terminally ill or widows or disabled persons or persons aged 60 years or more or single women or single men with no family or societal support or assured means of subsistence. Landless labourers into agriculture, rural people who are into arts and marginal farmers are also part of this project. Rural artisans are craftsmen such as potters, weavers, blacksmiths, carpenters and slum dwellers. Also, a household with widows or patients who are terminally ill who are the heads of their families is also eligible. Terminally ill patients or widows who are living alone are also eligible. Tribal people and HIV positive persons who are below the poverty line are eligible for this programme. The eligible people should not have assured means of subsistence or societal support. Families with an annual income of less than Rs.15000 are eligible for this plan too.