Odisha ranked top-performing state in food distribution under NFSA

Bhubaneswar, July 5: Odisha has been ranked as the top-performing state by the Government of India in food distribution under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Union Minister Piyush Goyal today released the ‘State Ranking Index for NFSA 2022-creating resilient food systems to optimize the delivery of benefits’. Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister expressing his happiness said that it has been only possible for the foresight and vision of Chief Minister Naveen Patanaik. He has also thanked all the officers of the Department for their continuous effort to achieve this glory. Since implementation of National Food Security Act in the state in 2015, Odisha has followed it up with a robust end-to-end computerization of TPDS operations. A digitized beneficiaries database of 3.25 crore has been hosted in public domain, dynamically updated in 378 Ration Card Management System (RCMS) Centres, one each in 314 Blocks and 64 Urban Local Bodies. All the 152 food storage depots of Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department have been fully automated with provision for real-time electronic recording of doorstep delivery of 1.87 lakh MT foodgrains per month at 12,133 Fair Price Shops across the State. All the Fair Price Shops are equipped with electronic Point of Sale (e-PoS) devices which ensure distribution to PDS beneficiaries through automated mode. One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) Programme has been implemented across the State from July 2021. PDS beneficiaries are now availing intra-state/inter-state portability of ration cards and able to choose any fair price shops of their choice & convenience to receive their monthly entitlements. Around 1.10 lakh families are receiving ration through the intra-state facility and 533 families receiving ration through inter-state facility every month. Keeping in view the network connectivity, 10578 fair price shops have been made ONORC-enabled shops out of total 12206. The number may increase once network connectivity in those fair price shops locations improves. Odisha has implemented the pilot scheme of ‘Supply of Fortified Rice under Public Distribution in Malkangiri district’ since July 2021. Around 1.29 lakh families comprising of 4.66 lakh members under NFSA & State Food Security Scheme are being supplied 3,138 MT fortified rice every month. Apart from PDS (Pilot), this Department has started supplying fortified rice to School & Mass Education Department for PM-POSHAN (erstwhile MDM) programme and to Women & Child Development Department for SNP programme in phased manner.