New Delhi: In a significant move, the Union government announced a revision in the wheat-rice ratio for ration card holders in Odisha and 8 other state. The new rule will come into effect from October. The move aims to address the changing dietary preferences and demands of people.
As per the revised allocation of food grain, 35 lakh metric ton (LMT) wheat will be distributed Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. This adjustment comes in response to requests from state governments, including Odisha, which had earlier sought a higher wheat quota to meet local demand. Moreover, the country has witnessed a sharp rise in wheat production during the last Kharif season.
Now all ration card holders in the above-mentioned states will receive a combination of wheat and rice, with the specific ratio adjusted to better reflect regional consumption patterns. However, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, has assured that there will be no changes in cost-sharing, including food subsidy, intra-state transportation, and dealer’s margin.
It is worth mentioning here that the Odisha Food and Consumer Welfare Minister had previously highlighted the need for this change, citing the growing preference for wheat among the state’s residents. The revised allocation is expected to improve food security and provide more balanced nutrition to the beneficiaries.
