Malkangiri, June 17: The district-level launch ceremony of the Chief Minister Annapurna Scheme was held at the local Culture Bhavan in Malkangiri. While Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi officially launched the scheme at the IDCO Exhibition Ground in Bhubaneswar, it was simultaneously implemented in Malkangiri district as well.
Malkangiri MLA Narsingha Madkami attended the event as the chief guest. Highlighting the importance of the scheme, he stated that the Chief Minister Annapurna Scheme is a landmark initiative of the state government aimed at the welfare and development of poor and underprivileged communities. He emphasized that the distribution of smart ration cards and smartphones would digitally empower people living in remote areas and ensure that no eligible beneficiary is deprived of their rightful benefits. He also reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to reaching every eligible family in the district.
The program was organized under the direct supervision of District Collector Prathamesh Arvind Rajshirke. Among those present were Chairman of the Special Development Council Gangadhar Sodi, MP Representative Sanjay Sarkar, Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Somanath Pradhan, Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer Dasharath Sarabu, and District Social Welfare Officer Suchita Panda.
The speakers stressed the importance of administrative preparedness, women’s empowerment, transparency in government schemes, and the direct delivery of services to citizens. They noted that smartphones would enable women to connect with the digital world and easily access information about government welfare programs, thereby bringing significant improvements to their quality of life.
Chief Development Officer and Executive Officer Dasharath Sarabu delivered the welcome address, while District Supply Officer Lingaraj Behera proposed the vote of thanks. District Information and Public Relations Officer Pramila Majhi successfully conducted the proceedings of the event.
According to official data, 1,59,511 families comprising 5,18,679 members have been registered in Malkangiri district under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and the State Food Security Scheme. All beneficiaries currently receive 5 kilograms of rice free of cost per month, with a monthly allocation of 25,933 quintals of rice.
The rice distribution for the months of April, May, and June will now be implemented under the Chief Minister Annapurna Scheme.
Under the scheme:
The District Supply Department distributed new Smart Ration Cards.
The Department of Women and Child Development distributed Smartphones.
Smart ration cards will help beneficiaries easily access their entitled food grains and other benefits.
Services will be available through 117 Fair Price Shops across the district, including:
108 Gram Panchayat centers,
8 Women Self-Help Group-operated centers, and
1 Maitri Store.
A large number of beneficiaries, along with officials and employees from the District Supply Department, District Social Welfare Department, and District Council Office, attended the event.
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