Odisha Launches India's First 24/7 Grain ATM

Odisha inaugurated India's first round-the-clock grain ATM in Bhubaneswar. The Annapurti Grain ATM, unveiled by Odisha's Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, aims to ensure seamless access to food supplies and will be extended to all districts, enhancing food security with 24/7 service and rapid grain dispensing.

Odisha has ushered in a new era of food distribution with the launch of India's first 24/7 grain ATM in Bhubaneswar's Mancheswar area. The innovative initiative, christened the Annapurti Grain ATM, was unveiled on Thursday by Krushna Chandra Patra, Odisha's Minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, and Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme in India.

Minister Patra hailed the launch as a historic day for Odisha, emphasizing that the new machines will be rolled out across all districts soon. "This is a significant step towards ensuring our citizens can easily access their entitled food grains without hassle," Patra remarked to the media. He assured that the new system will eliminate delays caused by dealers in the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The Annapurti Grain ATMs, introduced in partnership with the World Food Programme, promises a seamless experience for beneficiaries. By simply inputting their Aadhar or Ration card number and undergoing biometric verification, users can receive their food grain quotas from the machine. The machine, capable of dispensing up to 50 kilograms of grain within five minutes with a minimal error rate, operates round the clock and can be powered by solar panels for higher efficiency.

The World Food Programme in India highlighted the ATM's efficiency in reducing waiting times by 70 percent and providing consistent access to food rations. The system's modular design allows easy assembly and ensures the machine's energy consumption remains as low as 0.6 Watts per hour.

(With inputs from agencies.)