In a major welfare push to ensure food security among low-income families, the Odisha government has announced an additional allocation of 5 kilograms of rice per person per month for three months - from September to November 2025 - under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (GKAY).
The decision will benefit around 2.4 crore individuals belonging to 70.47 lakh families across 19 districts, including 8.28 lakh Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households. Officials from the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department confirmed the announcement on Thursday.
Under the new allocation, eligible families already covered by the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS) will receive an extra 5 kg rice per person per month in addition to their existing quota.
For Antyodaya families - who earlier received 35 kg of rice per month - the entitlement will temporarily increase to 40 kg per month for the three-month period.
Officials said the decision came after several districts reported that the standard 5 kg per person quota was insufficient to meet the basic food needs of poor households.
District collectors have been instructed to ensure lifting and delivery of rice to fair price shops (FPSs) by October 31, with distribution to beneficiaries completed by November 10.
To improve efficiency and transparency, the government has made Aadhaar-based authentication mandatory at all ration distribution points. This time, iris scanners will replace fingerprint devices to enhance accuracy, especially in rural and tribal regions where fingerprint mismatches are common.
Exceptions will be made for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, differently-abled, critically ill persons, and leprosy patients, who may face challenges with biometric verification.
The move comes in response to widespread complaints that the current 5 kg entitlement was not enough to support household food consumption, particularly in rural and coastal areas affected by inflation and erratic weather conditions.
Officials added that Odisha currently has a surplus of over 12 lakh tonnes of rice from procurement and storage. Distributing part of this stock helps both stabilize supply and reduce storage burden on state warehouses.
According to sources, the state may also consider increasing the regular PDS entitlement to 10 kg per person per month in the future, depending on fiscal feasibility and stock availability.
This is the second phase of additional rice distribution under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana. In August, the state had rolled out a similar scheme for 11 districts, benefiting about 27 lakh families.
The current expansion covers 19 more districts, ensuring that no eligible household is left out of coverage under NFSA or SFSS.
The government expects the initiative to:
Reduce food insecurity among low-income families.
Improve nutritional access for children and women in rural households.
Stabilize PDS efficiency through digital authentication and real-time monitoring.
Utilize surplus food grains more effectively.
The scheme reflects Odisha's continued focus on inclusive food security and digital reform in the public distribution system - part of the state's broader goal to eliminate hunger and improve the quality of life for its poorest citizens.