Ration card holders to get additional 5 kg rice under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana in 19 more Odisha districts

In a bid to strengthen food security for vulnerable families, the Odisha government has announced that beneficiaries left out in earlier coverage under the National and State Food Security Schemes will receive an additional 5 kg of rice per person per month for three months from September to November. The initiative comes 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. 

The Collectors of 19 districts have been instructed to ensure that rice is lifted and delivered to fair price shops by October 31, with distribution to beneficiaries to be completed by November 10. The move is expected to benefit around 2.40 crore individuals from over 70.47 lakh families, including 8.28 lakh families under AAY. Under the revised scheme, each Antyodaya household, which previously received 35 kg of rice, will now get 40 kg per month for the three months.

The decision comes in response to complaints that the current 5 kg per person allocation was insufficient to meet basic consumption needs. The department has directed district collectors to ensure Aadhaar-authenticated distribution at all fair price shops. 

Dealers have been asked to use iris-based authentication devices instead of fingerprint scanners for better accuracy. Exceptions will be made only for genuine cases, including the elderly, differently-abled, critically ill, and leprosy patients.

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Officials said the additional rice distribution is aimed at providing adequate nutrition and reducing hardship for families in the wake of ongoing economic and social challenges.