Identifying Antyodaya Families

Antyodaya Scheme as you know is a scheme aimed to feed the poorest of poor families by providing food-grains and other commodities in a very low rate under the Public Distribution System. But who are eligible for the scheme? Here are how identification of Antyodaya families are done.

1. Each State or UT has a particular indicated number of Antyodaya Families. This will further be distributed among the districts and the District Administration will do the same in the Panchayat and Municipal level.
2. Identification is commenced by District Collectors after giving wide publicity of the scheme. Publicity is done in order to make the people aware about the criteria for acquiring the scheme.
3. Strict supervision is (should be) done in identifying beneficiaries in various Development blocks.
4. Each Panchayat is assigned to an Officer of Revenue or responsible department who should be help accountable for proper identification of beneficiaries.
5. In the first phase, each panchayat draws up a tentative list of poorest of poor family keeping in view the number of families allotted to the Panchayat.
6. The data of each family included in the list is then verified by the officer nominated for this purpose who is help accountable for the same.
7. In the second phase (when the list is ready), a meeting of the Gram Sabha may be held which is attended by the assigned officer. Everything is placed clearly in front of everyone.
8. Names of the beneficiaries may be read out in the meeting after being finalized by the Gram Sabha. Names are arranged in such a way that the most deserving family is placed on top of the list, second most deserving comes second and so on.
9. The list approved by the Gram Sabha may be consolidated at the Block level and then the District.

The beneficiaries hence identified are eligible for drawing low cost supplies under the Public Distribution System for which they will be issued special ration cards.

More on information related to PDS, visit PDS Gaya website.