In a significant move to support its aging population, the Haveri district administration has successfully begun delivering essential rations directly to the doorsteps of elderly citizens under the Anna Suvidha Yojana. This initiative, run by the department of food and civil supplies, is designed to alleviate the physical and logistical hardships faced by senior citizens in accessing their Public Distribution System (PDS) entitlements.
How the Scheme is Transforming Lives
The core mission of the Anna Suvidha Yojana is to address the practical difficulties encountered by the elderly, who often must endure long queues at ration shops, deal with server-related delays, and travel considerable distances just to collect their monthly quota of 10 kg of rice. For many, these tasks become insurmountable with advancing age.
"We are a family of two—my wife and I have crossed 75 years. We cannot collect ration from PDS shops because of age-related problems. The state government is introducing the scheme, as door delivery is a great help to us," shared Mallappa Kabbur, a villager from Najik Lakamapur, highlighting the scheme's direct impact.
Implementation and Current Reach in Haveri
The scheme, announced in the last state budget and implemented statewide since December, follows a structured monthly process. Ration shop personnel are tasked with collecting consent letters from beneficiaries between the 1st and 5th of each month. Subsequently, the actual delivery of rations takes place from the 6th to the 15th. For this added service, the shopkeepers receive their usual commission plus an extra Rs 50 per household.
In Haveri district, a total of 7,211 eligible beneficiaries were identified under the scheme. As of December, consent was obtained from 247 individuals, and rations have been successfully delivered to 166 families. Manjunath DJ, Deputy Director of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies in Haveri, confirmed these figures and emphasized the department's efforts. "The department is creating significant awareness about this scheme, which will help older people," he stated.
He further clarified the eligibility: "Eligible ration cardholders from families with only elderly members over 75 years should benefit from this scheme."
Taluk-wise Breakdown of Beneficiaries in Haveri
The identification of beneficiaries across the district's taluks is as follows:
- Byadgi: 681
- Hanagal: 1,268
- Haveri: 1,429
- Hirekerur: 668
- Ranebennur: 1,144
- Savanur: 674
- Shiggaon: 800
- Rattihalli: 547
Total: 7,211
Statewide Scope and Operational Challenges
The Anna Suvidha Yojana is a major statewide undertaking. Across Karnataka, authorities have identified 2,58,154 beneficiaries, with a substantial allocation of Rs 15.4 crore earmarked specifically for the doorstep delivery component.
However, the implementation is not without its challenges. Ration shopkeepers have reported that obtaining the mandatory consent letters each month can be a tedious process, often requiring multiple visits to the same household if the elderly beneficiaries are not present. This has led to calls from the ground for a simplification of the consent letter rules to make the process more efficient for both deliverers and recipients.
Despite these operational hurdles, the scheme marks a crucial step in social welfare, recognizing the dignity and specific needs of the elderly. By bringing essential supplies to their homes, the Anna Suvidha Yojana is not just delivering food grains; it is delivering convenience, care, and a much-needed reprieve from hardship for Haveri's senior citizens.
