Following the footsteps of Centre, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced to provide rice free of cost to State Food Security Scheme beneficiaries for one year from January 2023 to December 2023.
Earlier, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to give foodgrains free of cost for one year to the poor till December 2023 under National Food Security Act (NFSA).
A total of 81.35 crore people would benefit from the decision and it would cost around Rs 2 lakh crore to the exchequer.
Under the NFSA Act, food grains is allocated at 5 kg per person per month for priority households.
As per the direction, the State Government has now decided to provide 5-kg entitlement of rice under SFSS to the beneficiaries free of cost for a period of 12 months starting January 2023. The total expenditure of Rs. 185 crore will be met from State exchequer.
The State Government has been distributing 5 kgs of rice per person per month to the left-out eligible beneficiaries covered under the State scheme called ‘State Food Security Scheme at Re. 1 per kg since October 2018. Now it will be free of cost.
These beneficiaries have also been provided with additional rice and pulses during the last 28 months of prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation in the State. Besides, Rs. 1000 cash incentive was given to each family under National Food Security Act and State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) twice.