Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and the Assistant Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme based in Rome, Valerie N. Guarnieri, met in Bhubaneswar on Thursday to discuss collaboration and partnerships to strengthen food security, livelihood, and food safety nets.
Guarnieri congratulated the Chief Minister on the formation of the government in the state and emphasised WFP’s full cooperation in his efforts to fulfill the government’s promises in food security and nutrition, with a special focus on the most vulnerable people, including women and tribal populations.
“My government is committed to the agenda of inclusive development and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the motto of ‘Leave No One Behind’. The partnership with the World Food Programme will continue to gain strength. We will leverage the global and technical expertise that it brings to support innovation and efficiency,” the Chief Minister added.
“WFP’s partnership with the Government of Odisha goes back to the very inception of its India operation. The growth that the state has seen is inspiring, especially in being at the forefront of ensuring food security through innovation and commitment towards making its food safety entitlement accessible to those who need it the most. We are honoured to be a part of this journey,” said Guarnieri, who has been in India on an official mission.
Guarnieri expressed happiness at the recent launch of the Grain ATM by the Odisha Minister of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare. She highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring easy access for PDS beneficiaries to their entitled food grains. She also mentioned that WFP is a technical partner for this initiative and is willing to continue this partnership for scaling up.
Elisabeth Faure, Representative and Country Director of WFP India, Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director of WFP India, and Himanshu Bal, Head of the Odisha State Office, were also present at the meeting.
WFP has been working in Odisha since its inception. Food for Work activities started in Odisha in 1986, extending support to the tribal population. WFP continued with food assistance in Odisha till 2012, creating assets and addressing the malnutrition of vulnerable groups. Currently, the WFP focuses on technical assistance to the Government of Odisha.
