Tamil Nadu drew lower quantity of rice than its share under Antyodaya Anna  Yojana in five of the last seven years

Tamil Nadu drew a lower quantity of rice than the quota allocated for Antyodaya Anna  Yojana (AAY) cardholders in five of the last seven years under the public distribution system. In this context, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to disturb the existing provision assumes significance.

Of the five years (from 2019-20 to 2025-26), it was during the COVID-19 pandemic year (2020-21) that the drawal was almost close to the allocated figure of around 6.99 lakh tonnes, with the off-take being about 98%. In the remaining four years, it varied from around 73% during 2022-23 and 2023-24 to 79% during 2024-25. Only in two years (2019-20 and 2025-26) did the utilisation exceed the allocated quantity, close to 108%.

Free supply

Between 2020 and 2023, the Union government implemented the Pradhan Mantri Garib  Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to provide free foodgrains in addition to the regular allocation in view of the pandemic. In those years, Tamil Nadu came under criticism of the Union government that it had made more use of the free foodgrains than its regular allocation as rice was then supplied to the State at ₹3 per kg for AAY and priority household (PHH) cards.

Since January 1, 2023, the Union government has not been charging any amount for rice meant for the two categories of cards. It has extended, for five years effective January 1, 2024, the period of distribution of free foodgrains, the arrangement of which is named as the PMGKAY.

In a recent letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Vijay urged the Centre to retain the present entitlement of 35 kg of foodgrains per month for every household under the Antyodaya  Anna Yojana (AAY), irrespective of the size of family, as had been the practice since the enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013.

Amendment proposed

The amendment, proposed by the Centre, seeks to provide 7 kg per person per month, subject to an overall ceiling of 35 kg per household. Mr. Vijay apprehended that the move, if implemented, would “diminish the food security” of nearly 70 lakh of the most vulnerable people of the State and result in the reduction of the monthly quota from 65,261 tonnes to approximately 42,040 tonnes.

Enquiries with field officials reveal that many undeserving persons have been added to the list of AAY beneficiaries over the years. They have to be weeded out, and a drive is in progress. As of now, there are 18,64,600 AAY ration cards, covering 69,26,983 beneficiaries. Of them, the number of AAY cardholders, having the family size of below 5, is 15.75 lakh, with 58.51 lakh beneficiaries.

Scope for misuse

A former policymaker, who handled the subject of food for long, feels that the Centre’s move is well meaning, as the present entitlement of 35 kg for an AAY ration card, regardless of the size of the family, has been giving enormous scope for misuse, and it is next to impossible for the authorities to stop this.

T. Sadagopan, president, Tamil Nadu Progressive Consumer Centre, suggests that as the average family size in the State is about 3.5, the quantity be fixed at 30 kg per family, irrespective of the number of family members.

The response of Food Minister P. Venkataramanan is awaited.