The Ministry of Culture, Government of India came up with a new scheme named as ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna’.
- The scheme has come up with an aim of reducing the financial burden of "Charitable Religious Institutions who provide Food/Prasad/Langar (Community Kitchen)/Bhandara free of cost without any discrimination to Public/Devotees."
- Rs. 325.00 Crores is the amount that has been outlayed for financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20 under this scheme.
- The Charitable Religious Institutions that will be eligible for grant under this scheme are:
- Temples
- Gurudwara
- Mosque
- Church
- Dharmik Ashram
- Dargah
- Matth
- Monasteries etc.
The following criteria must be met by the above-mentioned establishments:
- They should be in existence for at least five years before applying for financial assistance/grant.
- They should serve free food to at least 5000 people in a month.
- Such institutions should be covered under Section 10( 23BBA) of the Income Tax Act or Institutions registered as Society under Societies Registration Act ( XXI of 1860) or as a Public Trust under any law for the time being in force of statuary religious bodies constituted under any Act or institutions registered under Section 12AA of Income Tax Act.
Further noteworthy highlights of the scheme are:
- The Ministry of Culture will register the eligible charitable religious institutions for a time period ending with finance commission period and subsequently the registration may be renewed by the Ministry, subject to the performance evaluation of the institutions.
- The details of registered institutions will be available on an online portal for the viewership of public, GST authorities and entity/institution itself.
- The entity/institution will be permitted to submit the reimbursement claim of the GST and Central Government share of IGST to designated authority of GST Department at State level in the prescribed format during the validity of registration.
- It would be the responsibility of the institutions/entity to intimate the Ministry about any changes being made in Memorandum of Association, Office bearers or addition/deletion of the location of the free food services.
- All the eligible institutions should be registered with Darpan portal.
- All applications along with supporting documents received from the institutions in the Ministry shall be examined by the committee constituted for the purpose within 4 weeks and on the basis of the recommendation of the committee, competent authority in the Ministry shall register charitable religious institutions for reimbursing claim of CGST and Central Government share of IGST paid on above mentioned specific items.
