## Policy Summary: Food Security in the Bundelkhand Region
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to concerns regarding food insecurity in the Bundelkhand region, as addressed in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 675 on July 23, 2025.
The government acknowledges the food insecurity situation in Bundelkhand and highlights the ongoing implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) in the region. PMGKAY aims to supplement the food requirements of up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population, based on the 2011 census, covering 81.35 crore individuals nationwide.
Under PMGKAY, Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households (the poorest of the poor) receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month. Priority Households (PHH) receive 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month, free of cost. The provision of free food grains under PMGKAY, initiated on January 1, 2023, has been extended for another five years, effective January 1, 2024.
The central government emphasizes that beneficiary identification and ration card issuance are the responsibilities of the respective state governments. The central government issues advisories to states/UTs to identify eligible and poor households, including vulnerable sections of society, for inclusion under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). States are also updating their beneficiary databases to remove ineligible ration cards and improve targeting.
Currently, the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, has no proposal under consideration for a special food package or nutrition campaign ("Aahaar Abhiyan") specifically for the Bundelkhand region.
Key Entities Referenced
Bundelkhand region: A geographical region in India spanning parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, known for its food insecurity issues.
SHRI NARAYANDAS AHIRWAR: A member of Lok Sabha who raised a question about food insecurity in the Bundelkhand region.
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION: The Indian government ministry responsible for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution.
Deen Dayal Upadhayaya Antyodaya Yojana: A government scheme aimed at providing food security to the poorest families.
National Food Security Act: An act of the Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to a large section of the population.
Public Distribution System PDS: A government-run system for distributing subsidized food and non-food items to the poor.
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana PMGKAY: A scheme to provide free food grains to beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic; later extended.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana AAY: A scheme to provide highly subsidized food grains to the poorest families.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 675
TO BE ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2025
FOOD INSECURITY IN BUNDELKHAND REGION
1675. SHRI NARAYANDAS AHIRWAR:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the situation of food insecurity in the Bundelkhand
regIon;
(b) if so, the special measures taken in the districts of the said region during the last five
years under schemes for distribution of foodgrains i.e. Deen Dayal Upadhayaya Antyodaya
Yojana, National Food Security Act and Public Distribution System (PDS); and
(c) whether the Government proposes to introduce any special ’food security package' or
nutrition campaign "Aahaar Abhiyan'’ for the said region so as to ensure timely and adequate
nutritious food for the poor families there?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIM ATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)
(a) to (b): The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kal)’an Anna Yojana (PMCIKAY) is being
successfully implemented in all the States/tiTs including Bundelkhand region, aims to
supplement the food requirements of upto 75% of the rural and upto 50% of the urban
population, which at Census 201 ] comes to 81 .35 crore persons. Under the PMGKAY, while
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households, which constitute poorest of the poor are entitled
to 35 kg of foodgrains, per household per rnonth, Priority Households (PHII) are entitled to 5
kg of foodgrains per person per month free of cost.-2-
The Central Government, in order to remove the financial burden of the poor
beneficiaries and to ensure nationwide unifonnity and effective implementation of the
programme for support of the poor, had decided to provide free of cost food grains to
beneficiaries, beginning from lst January 2023 under the PMGKAY. The period for
distribution of free of cost foodgrains has been extended for further five years w.e.f 1 st January
2024
Under the PMGKAY, the coverage of beneficiaries is substantially high to ensure that
all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit.
Under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Government, the responsibility
for identifIcation of beneficiaries and issuance of their ration cards- rests with the concerned
State Government. The Central Government issues advisories to all the States/Union
Ferritories from time to time to identify all eligible and poor persons/ households including
vulnerable Sections of the Society for inclusion under the NFSA. States are undertaking
updation of their beneficiary database so that ineligible ration cards get deleted and better
targeting of rightful beneficiaries is ensured.
(c): At present, there is no proposal for special food package under consideration of
Department of Food & Public Distribution, Government of India for the said region.
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