Aay 4 Page -

Beneficiaries often complain of adulterated or insect-infested wheat and rice. In some states, FCI provides low-quality “fair average quality” grains that are barely edible.

Introduce fortified rice (with iron and folic acid) under AAY, as already done in some states. Include a monthly quota of 2 kg of pulses and 1 liter of edible oil at nominal cost (₹10/kg pulses) funded by reallocating from less effective subsidies. aay 4 page

AAY covers only about 15% of India’s population. However, post-COVID, many economists argue that an additional 20–30% of vulnerable non-poor households (e.g., rickshaw pullers, small shopkeepers) face episodic hunger and should be included. Include a monthly quota of 2 kg of

During the COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020), the government doubled AAY quotas (35 kg to 70 kg per month) free of cost under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). This prevented widespread starvation and reverse migration deaths. During the COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020), the government

The largest criticism is inaccurate targeting. A 2018 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report found that 34% of AAY households were not among the poorest; conversely, 46% of eligible extreme-poor households were excluded. Reasons include outdated BPL lists, political favoritism, and corruption.

Even with digitization, the National Statistical Office (NSO) reported that 23% of AAY grains never reached beneficiaries due to diversion to open markets, bogus ration cards, or pilferage by FPS owners. This is lower than pre-AAY levels (36%) but still significant.