Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is considering providing an additional 5kg of rice to 3.25 crore people covered under food security schemes, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said.
This move aims to support those who find the current 5kg per person insufficient. The final decision will be taken by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
“We are thinking of providing an additional 5 kg rice to all 3.25 crore people who are covered under food security schemes. As many beneficiaries have said that 5 kg per month is insufficient, the government is considering distributing an additional 5 kg of rice to each of them. The final decision will be taken by the chief minister,” Patra said.
The state government has also decided to stop subsidised rice distribution to beneficiaries who fail to complete their electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) verification by next month. Over 15.67 lakh beneficiaries across Odisha remain unverified.
Those who don’t complete the mandatory e-KYC process will face a halt in rice distribution. However, the government may extend the deadline if the Centre allows it, and left-out beneficiaries can submit written appeals for consideration.
