What was the primary focus of the Antyodaya Program launched in 1977?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Uplift the poorest sections of society
Explanation
The primary focus of the Antyodaya Program, launched in 1977 by the Government of Rajasthan (under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat) and later adopted nationwide, was the upliftment of the poorest sections of society. The word 'Antyodaya' itself translates to the 'rise or development of the last person' in society.
The philosophy behind the program was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's concept of Sarvodaya and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya's ideas, which emphasized that development must first reach the poorest family at the very bottom of the economic pyramid before moving upward. Under this scheme, the five poorest families in every village were identified each year and provided with economic assistance, land allotments, or self-employment opportunities to help them rise above the poverty line.
Key Points
The scheme shifted the traditional approach to poverty alleviation by targeting the specific family unit rather than a broad community or geographic region. Following its grassroots success in Rajasthan, the central government recognized its impact and scaled up similar targeted welfare models across other states. Decades later, this foundational concept paved the way for the launch of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) in December 2000, which provides highly subsidized food grains to millions of the poorest families across India.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: Which Indian state was the very first to conceptualize and launch the original Antyodaya Program in 1977?
Answer: Rajasthan.
Question: What is the literal meaning of the term 'Antyodaya' as applied to these economic welfare schemes?
Answer: Upliftment of the last person (or the poorest of the poor).