Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to expand its Rice ATM initiative to four more districts following the success of its pilot project in Bhubaneswar. The move is aimed at strengthening the Public Distribution System (PDS) and making the distribution of subsidised food grains more convenient for beneficiaries.
Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed the State Assembly that automated rice dispensing machines will soon be installed in Jharsuguda, Nabarangpur, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal districts.
The decision follows the encouraging response to the pilot Rice ATM set up at Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar. Since its launch in July 2024, the automated system has been widely used by ration card holders. Official data shows that around 20,217 beneficiaries have withdrawn nearly 3,805 quintals of subsidised rice through the facility.
Under the system, beneficiaries can collect rice by entering their ration card number on a touchscreen and completing biometric authentication. Each eligible person can withdraw up to 25 kg of rice at a time, similar to an ATM-style automated transaction.
Officials believe the initiative will reduce long queues at ration shops, enhance transparency and modernise the delivery of food grains under the Public Distribution System across the state.
-OdishaAge
