In a major step towards making foodgrain distribution more convenient, transparent and accessible, the Odisha government on Monday inaugurated an ‘Annapurti Grain ATM’ in Dhenkanal district. The initiative has been launched in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
State Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Dhenkanal Collector Ashish Ishwar Patil and Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director of the UN World Food Programme in India, attended the inauguration ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Hashimoto described the project as a combination of technology, transparency and humanitarian service. She said the initiative would contribute to modernising India’s foodgrain distribution system.
Himanshu Bal, Head of the WFP Odisha Field Office, explained that the machine has been designed according to the existing logistics system and can dispense up to 25 kg of foodgrains at a time.
One of the key features of the Grain ATM is that beneficiaries do not have to collect their entire monthly ration in a single transaction. For instance, if a family is entitled to 50 kg of rice per month, it can collect the allotted quantity in multiple instalments according to its convenience during the month.
Available 24×7 and Solar-Powered
The Annapurti Grain ATM can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, similar to a conventional ATM. This will allow beneficiaries to collect their ration at a convenient time without depending on the operating hours of ration shops. The machine can also function using solar power.
How to Use the Grain ATM
Beneficiaries need to enter their ration card number on the e-POS device and verify their details. They must then complete Aadhaar-based biometric authentication through fingerprint verification.
After checking the available ration and quantity displayed on the screen, beneficiaries can place their bag under the designated ‘Grain Outlet’. By pressing the ‘Dispense’ button, the machine will automatically release the foodgrains within a few seconds.
The beneficiary can then collect the ration and confirm the transaction displayed on the screen, completing the distribution process.