New Delhi: In a major policy shift, the Union government has announced a revision in the wheat-to-rice ratio for ration card holders across Odisha and eight other states, effective from October 2024. This move aims to better align with the changing dietary preferences and nutritional needs of the population.
The new food grain allocation will see 35 lakh metric tons (LMT) of wheat distributed across Odisha, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The decision follows requests from state governments, including Odisha, where officials had advocated for an increased wheat quota to meet growing local demand. This shift comes as the country experiences a significant rise in wheat production following the last Kharif season.
Under the revised plan, all ration card holders in these states will now receive a mix of wheat and rice, with the specific distribution ratios tailored to reflect regional consumption patterns. This change aims to ensure that the public distribution system (PDS) offers food grains that more closely match the preferences and needs of local populations. However, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution has assured that cost-sharing mechanisms, including food subsidies, intra-state transportation, and dealer margins, will remain unchanged.
Odisha’s Food and Consumer Welfare Minister had earlier underscored the necessity for this adjustment, pointing to the increasing preference for wheat among Odisha’s residents. The revised allocation is expected to bolster food security while providing more balanced nutrition to beneficiaries under the PDS.