Bhubaneswar, Oct 25: In a major step to strengthen food security, the Odisha Government has decided to distribute an additional 5 kg of fortified rice per household to families who were earlier missed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). The initiative, taken under the Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, will benefit around 2.4 crore people across 19 districts.

The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department has issued an official order specifying that this extra rice will be given free of cost over and above the existing monthly entitlement under NFSA, Antyodaya Anna Yojana, and SFSS. A total of 10,57,112.70 quintals of fortified rice has been allocated from the State Pool for distribution during September, October, and November 2025.

Districts covered under the scheme include Angul, Balasore, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Khordha, Mayurbhanj, Puri, Sambalpur, Sundergarh, and others.

The government has directed district Collectors to ensure Aadhaar-authenticated distribution at all fair-price shops. To improve accuracy, iris scanners will replace fingerprint devices, with exemptions for the elderly, differently-abled, and critically ill beneficiaries.

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