The eAnnadata Canteen Card Scheme, part of India’s broader initiative to support farmers, is a welfare scheme designed to provide farmers with discounted access to everyday essentials. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the scheme:
Key Features:
- Discounts for Farmers:
- The eAnnadata Canteen Card allows farmers to purchase goods at a discount ranging from 5% to 40%. Discounts vary based on the type of goods and the location of the canteens.
- These canteens are categorized as Anmol Dukan (smaller, village-level shops) and Anmol Bazaar (larger, district-level markets), with higher discounts available at the district level.
- Eligibility and Application:
- The scheme is primarily aimed at landholder farmers, defined as a family unit owning cultivable land. Farmers can apply for the card free of cost through their local eAnnadata Service Branch or online via the eAnnadata portalโ.
- The card is valid for three years, after which farmers need to renew it for continued access to benefits.
- Goods and Services Provided:
- Farmers can purchase essential items like fertilizers, seeds, agricultural tools, and daily household needs from registered shops functioning as canteens.
- These canteens also provide access to reliable and high-quality products at subsidized rates, ensuring affordability and availability for rural farmers.
- Integration with Local Shops:
- Local shops, known as Anmol Dukan and larger malls termed Anmol Bazaar, are registered as part of the scheme. These canteens offer products at discounted rates to farmers holding the eAnnadata Canteen Card.
- These registered shops benefit from an increased customer base and branding support from the government, and they receive goods at a lower price from service branches, which helps them maintain profitability despite the discountsโ.
- Additional Benefits:
- Besides discounts on goods, the scheme provides financial aid and insurance coverage to participating farmers, helping to reduce their overall financial burden.
- The program also supports initiatives aimed at educating farmers about better agricultural practices, including making agriculture more industrialized and efficientโ.
- Service Branches:
- Service branches are established in every district or block to manage the registration process, verify the operations of registered shops, and ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme. These branches play a critical role in distributing goods to the registered canteensโ.
- These branches are financially incentivized to ensure the successful running of the scheme, receiving compensation for their work and providing training to farmers to enhance their agricultural knowledgeโ.
Purpose and Impact:
The eAnnadata Canteen Card Scheme is part of a larger effort to improve the welfare of farmers by reducing their expenses on essential goods, thus allowing them to allocate more of their income to other needs like farm development, education, and healthcare. It also fosters rural development by creating a network of service branches and registered shops that cater specifically to the needs of the agricultural communityโ.
This initiative aligns with the government’s mission to uplift the agricultural sector and improve the quality of life for farmers across India.