Minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Shri Krushna Chandra Patra, reviewed various activities and programs of the department at Lokseva Bhawan.
The meeting saw the participation of Principal Secretary, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation, Shri Shubham Saxena, along with other senior officials.
Principal Secretary Shri Singh provided an overview of the department’s initiatives. Notably, 70 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy have been procured from approximately 15.65 lakh farmers during the ongoing Kharif season. In financial terms, ₹15,613 crore has been transferred to the farmers’ accounts as Minimum Support Price (MSP), and ₹5,430 crore as Input Assistance. Discussions also covered the streamlining of the upcoming Rabi season’s paddy procurement process, set to begin from May 1st to June 30th, with farmer registrations starting this month. Additionally, strategies were discussed to ensure the remaining rice produced is provided to the Food Corporation of India.
The Minister emphasized the acceleration of the e-KYC process across the State. So far, around 92% of beneficiaries have completed their e-KYC. Efforts are being made to include the remaining 30.84 lakh beneficiaries, particularly in regions with weak internet connectivity, by arranging internet facilities at Fair Price Shops (FPSs).
In a notable move towards promoting nutritious grains, 30 selected FPSs will be transformed into Jan-Poshan Kendra on a pilot basis, offering products like millets along with PDS and other items. A team is scheduled to visit similar Jan-Poshan Kendras in other states to gain firsthand information about their functioning.
These initiatives highlight the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and enhancing food security in Odisha.
