Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has announced plans to resume wheat distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS) through ration cards. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra in formed this to the State Assembly in response to a question raised by Congress MLA Ram Chandra Kadam in the Assembly.
Kadam had sought clarification on whether the current government would reinstate wheat distribution to the poor, disabled, and sick people through ration cards, a practice that was discontinued by the previous government.
In a written reply, Minister Patra explained that the Central Government had issued an allocation letter in October 2024 to provide both rice and wheat to consumers. However, due to unresolved transportation arrangements for lifting wheat from the Food Corporation of India, wheat distribution was temporarily suspended, and 100% rice was distributed to beneficiaries instead.
The Central Government has since issued another allocation letter to provide complete rice to consumers from March 2025. The state government will notify the central government once transportation arrangements for wheat lifting are finalized in all districts.
The minister assured that food grains will be distributed to beneficiaries based on revised allocation letters received from the central government
