Odisha urges centre to provide more rice for SC/ST hostels

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Food Supplies Minister Sanjay Dasburma met the Union Food minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Friday and urged to increase the Central allocation of rice meant for SC-ST hostels in the State.

Citing that there are currently, 5,47,380 inmates in SC-ST hostels along with 11,775 boarders in welfare institutions for which 8,387.32 tonnes of rice is required per month, Burma informed that the Centre is only providing 803.52 tonnes of rice per month.

Dasburma has urged the central government to provide for the shortfall of 7,583 tonnes of rice.

According to Dasburma, the Union minister has said that more more rice can be provided to the State after utilisation certificates and provides exact details of beneficiaries in hostels and welfare institutions are received.

“The Union minister was very positive towards our demands and asked us to furnish the details of all the boarders of all the SC-ST hostels, after which he will look into the matter,” said Dasburma.

Moreover, Dasburma has also urged the centre to release the required and stipulated rice to Odisha under the NFSA.