Odisha Govt to Provide Extra 5 Kg Rice Per Person for Three Months

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced an additional supply of 5 kg of rice per person per month for beneficiaries in 19 districts under the National and State Food Security Schemes. The benefit, to be provided for three months from September to November, will come under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

According to an order issued by the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, the extra rice will be distributed over and above the existing 5 kg already provided under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS).

District Collectors of all 19 districts have been directed to ensure the lifting and delivery of rice to fair price shops by October 31, while the distribution process must be completed by November 10.

The decision will benefit around 2.40 crore people belonging to over 70.47 lakh families, including 8.28 lakh families covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana. Each AAY household, which earlier received 35 kg of rice, will now get 40 kg per month for three months.

The move follows public complaints that the existing allotment of 5 kg per person per month was insufficient to meet basic consumption needs. To ensure transparency, the department has instructed district collectors to implement Aadhaar-authenticated distribution at all fair price shops.

Dealers have been asked to use iris scanners instead of fingerprint devices for improved accuracy during distribution. Exceptions will be made only for genuine cases, including the elderly, differently-abled, critically ill, and leprosy patients, to ensure that no beneficiary is left out.