Tamil Nadu drew lower quantity of rice than its share under Antyodaya Anna Yojana in five of last seven years
Tamil Nadu has recorded lower-than-allocated drawals of rice under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme in five of the last seven financial years. The state only neared its full allocation during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when demand for food security reached a maximum.
Official data indicates that from 2019-20 to 2025-26, Tamil Nadu consistently drew smaller quantities of rice than its allocated share under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. The closest the state came to fulfilling its quota was during the 2020-21 pandemic year, where off-take reached approximately 98% of the 6.99 lakh tonne allotment.
Outside of the pandemic peak, the drawal percentages have fluctuated significantly, dropping to as low as 73% during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 periods. This trend suggests a gap between the central government's assigned grain quota and the actual distribution requirements within the state.
In the most recent 2024-25 cycle, the off-take figure stood at approximately 79%. Despite the available surplus, the state has not returned to the high utilization rates observed during the global health crisis. Source: The Hindu.
