Odisha CM Directs To Supply 3 Months’ PDS Rice To Beneficiaries In Advance

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister on Tuesday issued direction to provide rice of three months’ quota in advance to the PDS beneficiaries in the state.

The chief minister issued the order to the Food Supply and Consumer Welfare department after holding a review meeting on the public distribution system (PDS) in Bhubaneswar. As per the order, each beneficiary would be given 15 kg of rice for the months from October to December.

It was revealed at the meeting that around 40 lakh beneficiaries have not been given the rice till date though the process was started in October. Majhi directed to provide the rice to those beneficiaries on priority basis.

As per the government’s decision, around one crore and 30 lakh daily labourers have been registered in PareShram portal of the Labour and Employees’ State Insurance department so that they can get the PDS benefits. The chief minister directed to register the rest 1.31 crore labourers so that they could be covered under the government’s food security scheme.

Food Supply and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja, chief minister’s additional chief secretary Nikunja Behari Dhal were present in the meeting.