Seva Bhoj Yojna {सेवा भोज योजना}

Contents
  1. Objective
  2. Scope
  3.  Type of Activities Supported Under The Scheme
  4. Quantum of Assistance
  5. Criteria for Financial Assistance
  6.  Procedure for Enrolment
  7. Documents Required
  8. Outcome of the Scheme
  9. Frequently Asked Questions

The Scheme, ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna’, will be valid within the territorial control of India. This Scheme will remain active from the 1st to 15th of each month. After that, the analysis of the received application will be accepted by the suitable composed committee every month. 

Objective

According to this Scheme named ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna’ Central Goods and Services Tax or CGST and Central Government’s share of Integrated Goods and Services Tax or IGST will be paid on the purchase of particular raw food items by Charitable and Religious Institutions for dispensing of free food to the general public will be compensated as Financial Support by the Government of India. 

Scope

This is a Central Sector Scheme for providing reimbursement of CGST and Central Government’s share of IGST paid by charitable/religious institutions on purchase of specific raw food items for serving free food to public/devotees. The Scheme shall apply only to such institutions which are eligible under the Scheme.

 Type of Activities Supported Under The Scheme

Free food “ prasad’ or open ‘langar’ / ‘Bhandara’ (community kitchen) provided by charitable/religious institutions like Gurudwara, Temples, Dharmik Ashram, Mosques, Dargah, Church, Math, Monasteries etc. are supported financially under this Scheme. Financial Aid will be given on First-cum-First Serve basis of registration related to the fund amount available for the intention in a single Financial Year. 

Quantum of Assistance

 Financial Aid will be given in the form of repayment will be offered only when the charitable or religious Institution has already paid the GST on all the food items mentioned below-

  • Ghee 
  • Edible oil
  • Sugar / Burra / Jaggery
  • Rice            
  • Atta / Maida / Rava /Flour 
  • Pulses 

The total of the CGST and Central Government’s share of IGST amount which will be refunded while buying in the Financial Year 2019-20 will be limited at a maximum of ten per cent of the present financial year.

Criteria for Financial Assistance

  • A Public Trust or society or body corporate, or Institution under the provisions of section 10 (23BBA) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 or registered under the provisions of section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961, for charitable and religious purposes, or a company formed and registered under the provisions of section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 or section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956, as the case may be, for charitable/ religious purposes, or a Public Trust registered as such for charitable/religious purposes under any law for the time being in force, or a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, for charitable/religious purposes. 
  • The applicant of the Public Trust or Organization, as the case may be, must be a part of the charitable or religious activities with no discrimination and philanthropic distribution of food/prasad/langar(Community Kitchen)/ Bhandara free of cost and through the modus of public, charitable/religious trusts or endowments including maths, temples, gurdwaras, wakfs, churches, synagogues, agiaries or other places of public religious worship.
  • The religious or charitable organizations must have been in existence for at least three years before applying for this Scheme.
  • The only Organization that are allowed for financial support are the ones that have been giving out free food, langar and prasad to the public for at-least past three years as on the day of application. The entities will require a self-furnished certificate for that.
  • Monetary Aid through this Scheme will be provided to only those organizations which are not already receiving any Financial Assistance from the Central or State Government for the intention of sharing out free food.
  • The religious institutions must serve free food to at least five thousand people in a single month. 
  • The religious or charitable organization will not be available monetary support for this Scheme if it is blacklisted under the provisions of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) or by the provisions of any Act/Rules of the Central/State Government.

 Procedure for Enrolment

There will be one-time registration and enrolment for qualified Religious and charitable institutions who will be applying for the ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna Scheme’. The Ministry of Culture will add only the eligible Religious Institutions for a specific time which will be ending with Finance Commission period which is till 31.3.2020 and consequently the enrolment might get renewed by the Ministry, mattered to the performance evaluation of the organizations.

 You will need to follow these steps:

1. First, visit the Darpan Portal of NITI Aayog.

2. Then, click on the Login/Register option.

3. Now, the login form will appear, you need click on sign up option and add all the details to get your unique ID generated by Darpan Portal.

After that, the institutions must enrol themselves in CSMS Portal of the Ministry of Culture in the instructed format. Then, they are supposed to apply “online” in the given application form and upload the required documents as mentioned below in CSMS Portal of Ministry of Culture.

4. Visit the CSMS Portal of the Ministry of Culture official website.

5. Then, click on this button for new enrolment

The registration form is available for every month from date 1st and 15th.

After that, submit the following documents.

Documents Required

  • Copy of the valid Registration Certificate as per the provision contained in Para 6 (i)and (ii).
  • Copy of Memorandum of Association/Article of Association/Charter of Activities of the Organization.
  • Copies of Audited Accounts for the last three years.
  • Copies of Annual Report, if any, for the last three years.
  • List of Office bearers/Governing Body of the Institution.
  • Name of the authorized signatory who will sign all documents with contact details and E-mail ID.
  • Self-certificate indicating that the Institution is distributing free food for at- least past three years on the day of application and providing free food to at least 5000 people in a month.
  • Certificate from District Magistrate indicating that the Institution is involved in charitable religious activities and is distributing free food to public/devotees etc. since last three years atleast on daily/monthly basis.
  • PAN/ TAN Number of the institution/organization.
  • List of locations where the Institution is distributing free food.
  • A number of persons being served free food by the Institution in previous year-self declaration.
  • Bank Authorization Letter as per prescribed format

Outcome of the Scheme

 A Performance-cum-Achievement Report on the activity undertaken will be submitted in triplicate by the beneficiary institutions, at the beginning of next financial year, to the Ministry as per the following format: 

  • Location of the Free Food Services
  • Cost of the Food items without adding GST in them 
  • GST levied: Total GST paid (CGST,SGST/UTGST,IGST and total sum of Financial Assistance released by Ministry: 
  • Number of the days when Free food was provided in a single month
  • Number of persons who were provided Free Food in a month
  • At least 12 photographs of Free Food Services

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When was this Scheme implemented?

This Scheme was implemented on 1st August 2018.

Q. What is the budget of this Scheme?

This Scheme was launched with a budget of INR 325 crore.

Q. What is the minimum limit of serving people to be eligible for this Scheme?

The religious institutions must serve at least 5000 people to be eligible for this Scheme.

Q. Who launched this Scheme?

The government of India launched this Scheme under Ministry of culture.

Q. Can the charitable trusts apply for this Scheme?

Yes, the charitable trusts can also apply for this Scheme.

Q. Do I have to mention the place of the Institution?

Yes, it is manadatory to mention the place of the Institution.

Q. Will there be any inspection?

Yes, the inspection will be done by the concerned state officials or commissioners.

Q. Is there any penalty in case of misuse of the grants?

Yes, there will strict legal action is taken towards anyone who will misuse the grants.

Q. Who can receive financial assistance under this Scheme?

Any religious or charitable trusts are allowed financial assistance under this Scheme.

Q. Where can I apply for this Scheme?

You can apply for this Scheme on the CSMS official portal.