• Source:JND
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Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday announced that over 2.7 million poor families across 11 districts will receive an extra 5 kg of rice per month, free of cost, for the next three months. This will be in addition to the rice already being provided under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.

Speaking at a function, Majhi said, “Each eligible family in eight KBK districts, including Boudh, Gajapati, and Kandhamal, will receive 5 kg of free rice per month for the next three months.” He added that the state government will spend Rs 180 crore to distribute 41,082 tonnes of additional rice to these families, as per HT.

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The move comes just weeks after the state government, in July, suspended ration distribution to 2.058 million beneficiaries who had not completed the mandatory e-KYC for their ration cards. At the time, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushnachandra Patra had stated that these beneficiaries had three months to complete the process or risk permanent cancellation of their cards.

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Officials have also pointed out that the decision will help reduce pressure on the state’s godowns, which are currently holding surplus stocks of parboiled rice. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has not been lifting parboiled rice from Odisha, while neighbouring states such as Bihar, West Bengal, and Jharkhand have also shown no interest in procuring it.

According to official data, the FCI had lifted 14.33 lakh tonnes of rice till the end of July, leaving nearly 12 lakh tonnes still lying with rice millers in the state.