Rs 1000 Livelihood Support Declared for PDS Beneficiary Families in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The proposal to provide one-time livelihood support of Rs 1,000 to each of the 95,90,526 Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiary families for their ease of living in day-to-day life was approved by the Odisha cabinet on Monday.

It was also decided to provide two jute carry bags of 20 kilograms and 10-kilogram capacity to these families for collection of their entitled PDS food grain from the Fair Price Shop as well as for their daily use.

The State Cabinet noted that due to the rise in the market prices of other essential commodities, these PDS beneficiary families face hardship in fetching the same for consumption.

The fund requirement for procurement and distribution of 1,91,81,052 numbers of jute carry bags will come to Rs 278.69 crore and for one-time livelihood assistance of Rs 1000 per family in the shape of cash will come to Rs 959.05 crore, totalling Rs 1,237.74 crore which will be borne out of the State budget.

In Odisha, the State government provides food and nutritional security to 95,90,526 families comprising 3,35,98,401 members covered under PDS.