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Context

• Odisha's Minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, inaugurated the Annapurti Grain ATM at Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar.
• This event marks a significant milestone in the state's efforts to enhance food distribution efficiency.

Statewide Expansion of Grain ATMs

• During the launch, plans were announced to introduce Annapurti Grain ATMs across all districts in Odisha.
• This initiative would simplify the process for beneficiaries to access their entitled food grains, ensuring that delays by dealers in the Public Distribution System (PDS) would no longer be an issue.

Simplified Process for Beneficiaries

• Beneficiaries can now obtain their food grains by simply inputting their Aadhar or Ration card number and undergoing biometric authentication.
• This user-friendly system ensures that beneficiaries can access their full ration of food grains without any complications.

Partnership with the World Food Programme

• This initiative, launched in collaboration with the World Food Programme, aims to achieve nutritional security in Odisha.
• The grain ATM will dispense rice or wheat 24/7, providing a reliable and consistent source of food for the state's residents.

Key Features of Annapurti Grain ATM

• High Dispensing Capacity: Annapurti can dispense up to 50 kilograms of grain in just five minutes.
• Low Error Rate: The machine operates with an impressive error rate of just 0.01 per cent.
• Energy Efficiency: Consuming only 0.6 Watts per hour, the ATM can be connected to solar panels for automatic refilling.
• 24x7 Access: The units provide round-the-clock access to food grains, reducing waiting times by 70 per cent.

This innovative approach to food distribution represents a significant step forward in ensuring that food grains reach those who need them most, efficiently and effectively.

READ ABOUT WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/world-food-programme-wfp

 SOURCE: THE HINDU

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