MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a)&(b): World Food Programme (India) released Food Security Atlas for rural Orissa in
October 2008, in which it has been inferred that Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Gajapati, Rayagada
and Nuapada districts were extremely food insecure. Out of these, Malkangiri, Rayagada and
Nuapada are included in KBK districts.
The Government of India makes allocation of foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution
System (TPDS) for all the 32.98 lakh Below Poverty Line families including Antyodaya Anna
Yojana (AAY) families in Orissa @ 35 kg. per family per month on the basis of 1993-94 poverty
estimates of the Planning Commission projected on the population estimates of the Registrar
General of India as on 1.3.2000.
In addition, considering the backward status of KBK districts, allocations of food grains to
all the 7.42 lakh APL families in KBK districts are made @35 kg per family at BPL price.
Also, presently the allocations of food grains for all the accepted APL families (outside KBK
districts) in the State are @ 12.7 kg per family per month.
The Government has made the following annual allocations (rice and wheat) under the TPDS and
Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) for Orissa during the current year:
(In thousand tons)
BPL APL OWS Total
1696.69 419.16 269.10 2384.95
Further, under the Emergency Feeding Programme (EFP) implemented through the State Government
of Orissa in eight KBK districts, rice at BPL price is allocated for approximately 2 lakh
beneficiaries in these districts. 18,000 tons of rice have been allocated under this scheme
during 2009-10.
To provide safeguard against starvation during natural calamity and lean season, under the
Village Grain Bank Scheme implemented by the Department of Food & Public Distribution through
the State Governments, food grains are allocated free of cost by Government to States. In each
village where a VGB has been set up, food grains @ one quintal per VGB member for a maximum
of 40 families are allocated. So far 500 Village Grain Banks have been sanctioned in Orissa.
In addition, the Government has been implementing various schemes / programmes for improving
food security in Orissa, details of which are given below:
1. Under Annapurna scheme implemented by Ministry of Rural Development through State/UT
Governments, indigent senior citizens of 65 years of age or above who are not getting old age
pension, are provided 10 Kg of food grains per person per month free of cost. 7680 tons of
food grains have been allocated to Orissa under this scheme during 2009-10.
2. The Government also makes allocation of food grains to States/UTs through the
Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development under Midday
Meal scheme for providing food to school children studying in primary and upper primary
levels. 139750 tons of food grains have been allocated to Orissa under this scheme during
2009-10.
3. Under the Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (Integrated Child Development Scheme)
implemented by Ministry of Women & Child Development through State/UT Governments aimed at
improving nutritional status of children below 6 years of age and expectant/lactating women,
90270 tons of food grains have been allocated to Orissa during 2009-10.
4. Under the Scheme for Welfare Institutions, Government makes allocation of food grains
to States/UTs for meeting requirements of food grains of welfare institutions. During current
year, 13410 tons of food grains have been allocated to Orissa under this scheme.
