The intensity of poverty in the KBK region caused by low productivity of agriculture and the devastation of forest-based livelihoods has, over the years, resulted in poor, nutritional status of the population and low life expectancy. The old lack the capability of earning and contributing to the family income. The endemic poverty and low household incomes tend to result in the neglect of the old and the infirm in the matter of food allocation within the family. The objective of this food-based intervention is to provide one square meal a day to old, infirm and indigent persons on a sustained basis which will help the poorest and most vulnerable section of the rural population to cope with food insecurity and food distress periods to break the food insecurity cycle. The Programme is also expected to have an impact on the life expectancy of the people in the area.

The Emergency Feeding Programme is being implemented in the KBK districts under the Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP). Under the Programme, old, infirm and indigent persons belonging to BPL households are provided food on each day throughout the year. The funds are provided from the Special Central Assistance (SCA).

The Programme started operating in 1995-96 with coverage of 5 KBK districts with a total population coverage of 45,141. During 2001-2002, the coverage was raised to 2,00,000 and the uncovered districts of Sonepur and Nawarangpur were brought into the Programme fold. During 2003-2004, the programme is being implemented in all the 8 KBK districts and the coverage stands at 2,00,000.
The district-wise coverage is as follows:

          
Under the scheme, a cooked meal is provided to the beneficiaries under the Programme through the Anganwadi Centres each day. The daily ration provided to each beneficiary till recently was 200 gms of rice, 40 gms of dal, vegetables, oil, salt and condiments and the nutritional value of the food was 812 K. Cal. of energy and 21.6 grams of protein. After allocation of BPL rice for this programme by the Government of India, the ration cost under the scheme has been Rs.2.51 per day per beneficiary. During the year 2002-2003, the cost of the daily ration was raised from Rs.2.51 to Rs.2.70 w.e.f. February 2003. This has been done with a view to enhancing the nutritional value of the meal provided to the beneficiaries by adding locally available nutritious vegetables such as drumstick, papaya, brinjal, potato and pumpkin, so that the much-needed minerals and vitamins from these can be accessed by the beneficiaries. The dal is cooked with seasonally available vegetables added to make a nutritious preparation of the local cuisine called ‘dalma’. The nutritional value of the food now being provided is 840.9 K.Cal of energy and 22.8 gms of protein.

The allocation of BPL rice made by the Government of India is communicated to the Districts keeping in view the number of beneficiaries. The Districts purchase the rice from the FCI Depots. The dal, oil, salt etc. is purchased by the Collectors through the tender procedure. For the purchase of vegetables, the funds are being placed at the disposal of the Anganwadi Workers to purchase locally available vegetables from Women’s SHGs and local procedures.

During 2005-06 , an amount of Rs.1992.16 lakhs (including 1st supplementary) has been provided in the budget under the RLTAP for KBK for implementation of this Programme. Till end of 4th Qr. a sum of Rs.1971.00 lakh has been released in favour of 8 KBK districts.