Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s first grain ATM for the distribution of rice was thrown open to the public on Thursday. With this, Odisha has become one of the states in India to provide 24/7 access to the beneficiaries of the public distribution system with the launch of a standalone grain dispensing solution, the Annapurti Grain ATM.
Using their ration card numbers on the display monitor with touchscreens and machines, people can now get the ration to which they are entitled. Unveiling the ATM here, minister of food supplies and consumer welfare, Krushna Chandra Patra, said: “This is a significant initiative in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) to achieve nutritional security in the state, which is focused on food security.
“The ATMs will be set up across the state to provide food grains to beneficiaries with 24/7 access under the National Food Security Act. Nozomi Hashimoto, deputy country director of WFP in India, was present on the occasion. WFP and Odisha have been partners for six decades. The state has been a pioneer in ensuring food security and pioneering innovations that allow citizens, especially marginalized sections, to access their entitlements.
“Odisha presents a success story with global relevance. We are humbled to see the Annapurti solution, a made-in-India globally awarded solution, operational in many states, evolving to add more functionalities and features based on a year-long pilot and testing,” said Hashimoto. The Annapurti, inaugurated on Thursday, has several additional features. It is the first standalone solution, providing service.
24 hours a day, much like a banking ATM. With universal access, anyone with a PDS ration card valid in India, regardless of the state or Union Territory, can access their entitlement. Annapurti can dispense grain up to 50 kilograms in five minutes, with an error rate of 0.01 percent. Once biometric authentication is completed, it provides consistent access to the full food ration.
The modular design allows easy assembly based on available space. Annapurti is energy efficient, consuming only 0.6 watts per hour, and can be connected to solar panels for automatic refilling. Units enable 24/7 access, reducing waiting time by 70 percent. After the ration card holders touch the screen and enter their ration card number, the machines will dispense rice after biometric authentication.
The rice is collected in a gunny bag attached to the two metric-ton-capacity machines. In case the beneficiary faces any difficulties, he or she may call the helpline number. The beneficiary will get help within two days of receiving the complaint.