Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to launch ration card distribution programme on October 2

BHUBANESWAR: Set to implement National Food Security Act (NSFA) on November 1 in the state, Odisha government today decided to launch ration card distribution programme from Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, official sources said.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here. While Patnaik will lanuch the card distribution programme in the capital city, 15 ministers have been deputed to 14 different districts to hand over cards to the beneficiaries between October 3 to October 8.

The 14 districts where the NFSA would be implemented in first phase were: Kalahandi, Angul, Subarnapur, Balangir, Sambalpur, Bargarh, Nuapada, Malkangiri, Jharsuguda, Boudh, Kandhamal, Deogarh, Gajapati and Koraput. The card distribution would be conducted in remaining 16 districts from October 16 till October 31.

As many as 3.26 crore people of the state's total population of 4.21 crore would get benefit from the NFSA, said food supplies and consumer welfare secretary M S Padhi.