In a significant move aimed at alleviating the burden on poor families, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced to provide free rice to eligible households through fair price shops for the next five years, starting from the New Year. The Food and Civil Supplies Department has issued directives to all collectors across the State to implement this decision. This decision is set to benefit 67 lakh 92 thousand 153 eligible ration card holders falling under the Antyodaya, Priority, Disabled and Single Destitute categories. Under the Chhattisgarh Food and Nutrition Security Act, Chief Minister Sai has taken a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to distribute free monthly entitlement rice to Antyodaya and priority category ration card holders under the National Food Security Act.

 

Starting from January 2024 and continuing until December 2028, eligible families falling under the Antyodaya, Priority, Disabled, and Single Destitute categories will receive free rice through government fair price shops. The move is in line with the commitment to providing nutritional support to vulnerable sections of society. Officials from the Food Department shared that, as per the Food Security Act, around 14 lakh 92 thousand 438 ration card holders in the Antyodaya category, 52 lakh 46 thousand 656 in the priority category, 37 thousand 708 in the single destitute category, and 15 thousand 351 in the disabled category will be eligible for free rice distribution for the next five years.

 

The Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Department have issued a letter from Mahanadi Bhawan, Atal Nagar Nava Raipur, directing all collectors and concerned officers to ensure the seamless implementation of the free rice distribution based on eligibility criteria. This decision is expected to provide significant relief to economically disadvantaged families, promoting food security and overall well-being in the State.