India has a total population of --------out of which about-------- is the number of people living below poverty line. Planning commission’s data, WHO’s data regarding food scarcity and hunger. Government Schemes Antyodaya Anna Yojana This scheme was launched by the government for the poorest of the poor on 25th December 2000. Under this scheme, 25 kg of foodgrain was made available to each eligible family at highly subsidised rates of Rs. Two per kg for wheat and Rs. Three per kg for rice. This quantity has been enhanced to 35 kgs from April 2002. The identification of the Antyodaya families is carried out by the State Government/ UT Administration from among the BPL families in each state/UT Annapurna Yojana Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2000-2001 this scheme chalks out free of cost supply of 10 kg of foodgrains per person per month to indigent senior citizens of 65 years of age or above who though eligible for old age pension under the National Old Age Pension Scheme but are not getting the pension under the scheme Village Grain Banks Scheme Village Grain Bank Scheme was earlier implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in 11 States. However, since 24.11.2004, the scheme is being implemented by the Department Food & Public Distribution. The main objective of the scheme presently being implemented is to provide safeguard against starvation during the period of natural calamity or during lean season when the marginalized food insecure households do not have sufficient resources to purchase rations. Such people in need of foodgrains will be able to borrow foodgrains from the Village Grain Bank. The grain banks are to be set up in food scarce areas like the drought prone areas, the hot and cold desert areas, tribal areas and the inaccessible hilly areas which remain cut off because of natural calamities like floods, etc. These villages are to be notified by the concerned State Government/Union Territory. The scheme envisages inclusion of all willing BPL/AAY families in the villages to be identified by the State Government in food deficit areas. The quantity to be lent and the period of repayment is to be decided by the Group themselves. Village Panchyat/Gram Sabha, Self Help Group for NGOs etc. identified by the State Government are eligible for running the Grain Banks. Midday Meal Scheme Launched on 15th August 1995 for the benefit of students in primary schools in Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)/ earlier Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) blocks. The scheme covers Class I-V students in the Government Primary Schools/ Primary schools aided by the Government and Primary schools run by local bodies. Foodgrains are supplied free of cost @ 100 gram per child per school day where cooked/processed hot meal is served with a minimum content of 300 calories and 8-12 gm of protein each day of school for a minimum of 200 days and 3 kg per student per month for 9-11 months in a year, where foodgrains are distributed in raw form. National Food for Work Programme Introduced in November, 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country identified by the Planning Commission in consultation with the Ministry of Rural Development and State governments, the objective of this programme generation of supplementary wage employment providing food security through creation of need based economic, social, and community assets in these districts. The scheme is 100 per cent Centrally sponsored. Refer to the current Food Security Bill Government Organs Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Food Corporation of India