TV
Three women from Mandipanka village of Odisha’s Kandhamal died due to food poisoning after consuming gruel prepared from mango kernel, the Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The rumours of starvation were dispelled after a thorough investigation, which confirmed that the affected families had adequate food supplies at the time of the fatal mishap.
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Officials visiting the victims' homes found that they had sufficient ration. Minister Patra emphasised that even though some beneficiaries lacked Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation, every one requiring ration was duly provided the supplies.
Besides, post-mortem reports confirmed that the cause of death was food poisoning rather than starvation, the Food Supplies Minister reiterated on the floor of the House.
In response to the incident, financial support has been extended to the bereaved families. Moreover, Minister Patra announced ongoing efforts to streamline the distribution process, ensuring beneficiaries receive rice 45 days ahead to improve logistical efficiency.
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To prevent future occurrences, the Minister outlined plans to open more ration centres in the remote regions, alongside distributing rations covering one to two months at a time to enhance better accessibility, the Food Supplies Minister expressed in his statement.
Minister Patra said this in the Odisha Assembly’s Winter Session while addressing significant topics pertaining to food distribution and the efficiency of logistics involved. During his speech, he reiterated the government's dedicated efforts to enhance the effectiveness and efficacy of the supply chain frameworks, aiming to better cater to the needs of the population.
