Odisha food security scheme to be implemented from today

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha food security scheme of the state government will be implemented from today on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to launch the scheme through video conferencing here.

Announcing about the scheme in July, Patnaik had said that those eligible beneficiaries who have been left out from the National Food Security Act would be covered under the State food security scheme.

Around 25 lakh people will be benefited by this scheme and provided with five kg of rice each per month at the rate of Rs 1 per kg. The State Government will spend Rs 442 crore per year for implementation of the scheme. The State exchequer will bear additional Rs 221 crore from October, 2018 to March, 2019 for implementation of the programme.

Distribution of rice to selected beneficiaries will be carried out through e-Point of sale (e-PoS) device at the designated fair price shops.