The Ministry of Rural Development launched the Food for Work Programme (FFWP) in the rural areas of drought-affected States in January 2001 as part of the Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS). The scheme was extended to areas affected by other natural calamities also. The Scheme provides for allocation of foodgrains (rice and wheat) free of cost to States/UTs as an additional resource. The scheme was discontinued from 31 March 2002. However the programme has been allowed to continue as a Special Component of Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana.