Odisha to provide three-month rice quota in advance to PDS beneficiaries

Bhubaneswar, Nov 5: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi today instructed the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Department to distribute a three-month advance quota of rice to public distribution system (PDS) beneficiaries across the state. This decision followed a review meeting on the PDS held in Bhubaneswar.

According to the directive, each beneficiary will receive 15 kg of rice covering the months of October through December. During the meeting, it was noted that about 40 lakh beneficiaries have yet to receive their allotted rice, even though the distribution began in October. The Chief Minister prioritized providing rice to these pending beneficiaries.

The government has also registered around 1.3 crore daily laborers on the PareShram portal, managed by the Labour and Employees’ State Insurance Department, to ensure their access to PDS benefits. The Chief Minister further directed the registration of the remaining 1.31 crore laborers, aiming to expand food security coverage.

The meeting was attended by Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, and the Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary Nikunja Bihari Dhal.