Union Food Secretary interacted with Odisha’s senior officials on various issues of state interest

Bhubaneswar:27/2/25:Union Food and Public Distribution Secretary Shri Sanjeev Chopra visited the state and interacted with senior officials on various issues of state interest. In a review meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja at Lok Seva Bhawan, Shri Chopra discussed the process of paddy procurement and public distribution system in the state. The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Managing Director, State Civil Supplies Corporation, Shri Shubham Saxena, Executive Director, Food Corporation of India, Shri Manoj Kumar Gogoi, General Manager, Odisha Branch, Shri Nihar Ranjan Pradhan, General Manager, Central Warehousing Corporation, Shri Narendra Kumar and other senior officials.

At the outset, the Principal Secretary of FS&CW Department Mr. Singh apprised about the steps taken for the paddy procurement and public distribution system in the state. He stated that about 91 per cent of the beneficiaries under National and State Food Security Act have completed their e-KYC. Similarly, steps are being made to provide internet facility at 341 government fair price shops (FPS) in areas where mobile networking is weak. Under these FPSs, the process of e-KYC of about 12 lakh beneficiaries is going on. Out of these, 111 FPSs are currently equipped with networking, he said. Shri Singh also informed that the officials are speeding up the process of door-to-door visit to verify the status of nearly 30 lakh beneficiaries who have not been involved in the e-KYC process so far.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Chopra informed the officials to ensure the process of taking paddy vehicles directly from the mandis to the mills. He also assured all support to the state. He also visited a Fair Price Shop at Unit-9, a godown at Mancheswar, and Grain ATM and interacted with the beneficiaries.