Government starts providing monthly PDS ration

The beneficiaries under food security will now be provided monthly ration under the public distribution for January, 2025 replacing the earlier practice of providing ration every quarter.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Directions have been issued to all district collectors to make necessary arrangements for lifting of PDS rice from godowns and lifting has started since 6 December, said official sources on Saturday.

In the last 14 days, the district collectors of both Nabarangpur and Deogarh districts have completed lifting the rice earmarked for their districts. Other districts will complete the lifting of PDS rice. Dealers in many parts of the state have started the distribution to beneficiaries at government fair price shops and dealer points to the beneficiaries and the process will be completed by 25 December, said the officials.

Minister for food supply and consumer welfare Krushna Chandra Patra said the move is in the interest of beneficiaries. Quarterly distribution was vulnerable to misuse by both the dealers as well as the beneficiaries, said the Minister. A meeting held by the Minister with principal secretary Sanjay Kumar Singh and other senior officers decided to release the monthly ration.