Jharsuguda:May 26: In a joint initiative by the Government of Odisha and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), a technology-driven “Annapurvi Grain ATM” has been inaugurated in Jharsuguda to provide food grains to beneficiaries in an easy, transparent, and advanced manner. This is the second Grain ATM in Odisha and the third in the entire country.
The state-of-the-art facility was formally inaugurated by Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari along with Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare as well as Science and Technology Minister Krushna Chandra Patra as the chief guest.
Among the distinguished guests present on the occasion were Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, Jharsuguda District Collector Kunal Motiram Chavan, Deputy Director of the World Food Programme in India Nozomi Hashimoto, Himanshu Bal, Head of the WFP Regional Office in Odisha, and several other dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said that due to the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister, Odisha has achieved a historic milestone in the field of food security. He stated that protecting the dignity and respect of every poor and underprivileged citizen is the government’s primary objective, and the government is committed to ensuring that no one remains hungry.
He further highlighted that, as a major achievement of the state government, beneficiaries are now receiving 10 kilograms of rice per person. In addition, under the “Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana,” another 5 kilograms of rice is being provided, which will significantly strengthen poor families economically and socially.
Sharing the roadmap for the future, the minister informed that Grain ATM services will soon be expanded to every district and block level across Odisha so that beneficiaries do not face unnecessary hardship or inconvenience. Under this initiative, the government aims to establish 55 new Grain ATMs throughout the state in the coming days.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Suresh Pujari recalled that Odisha had once faced devastating times like the historic “Na’Anka Famine.” He said that due to droughts and natural disasters, the people of Odisha had suffered immensely in the past. However, times have changed, and the government is now committed to ensuring that every Odia has access to sufficient food and that no one goes hungry.
He praised the government’s new welfare-oriented initiative and the efforts of the Food Supplies Department, stating that the department’s active work for farmers and poor citizens is highly commendable.
Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy also appreciated the government for launching this modern system in the district and placed an important proposal before the ministers for the development of his constituency.
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