Lok Sabha Question No. 2832 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-17
Subject: Strengthening of PDS in Odisha
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Ananta Nayak

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2832

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17TH DECEMBER, 2025

## STRENGTHENING OF PDS IN ODISHA

## 2832. SHRI ANANTA NAYAK:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a): the extent of digitalization and automation undertaken to modernize and strengthen the  delivery  mechanisms under the  Public  Distribution System (PDS)  in Odisha;
- (b): whether  all  Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Odisha have been equipped with  electronic Point of  Sale (ePoS) devices and if  so, the status of ePoS-enabled shops, district-wise;
- (c): the percentage of ration  cardholders in Odisha presently  covered under Aadhaarauthenticated PDS transactions and the details of the steps taken by the Government to address exclusion issues in  remote  or  tribal areas of  the  said  State;
- (d): whether online tracking  systems have been implemented in  Odisha for  the realtime monitoring of foodgrains allocation, movement and delivery at the FPS level and if so, the outcomes thereof;  and
- (e): whether the  Government has established Grievance Redressal Portals or Mobile Apps for  PDS consumers in  Odisha and if  so, the number of  complaints received and resolved through these systems?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

- (a): Present Status of  modernization efforts of  Public Distribution System (PDS) by  the Department across the country including Odisha are as follows -
- Ration cards/beneficiary's database have been completely digitized (100%) in  all States/UTs.
- Aadhaar seeding of 99.9% ration cards have been completed in the country.
- All  States/UTs have been regularly  urged to complete the eKYC  so that the benefits of the scheme reaches the entitled beneficiaries. The eKYC has been completed for  85.6 % beneficiaries
- Nearly 5.50 Lakh (99.8%) out of total 5.51 Lakh Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in the country have been automated by installing  ePoS devices for  the distribution  of  foodgrains through Aadhaar biometric  authentication of beneficiaries.
- Introduction of Anna Sahayata,  an  advanced  AI-enabled WhatsApp and  IVRS-based grievance redressal system, allowing  beneficiaries to  lodge complaints in  their  own language using these platforms.
- Mera Ration Mobile App, which enables beneficiaries to check their entitlements, member and demographic details, last month's distribution  status, nearby FPS location, and to lodge grievances directly through the app
- Anna Mitra mobile app enables the field level functionaries as well FPS dealers to run day to day PDS operations.
- For effective and efficient implementation of the distribution process,  the department has urged the States to integrate  the ePOS devices in FPS with weighing scales.
- The Depot Darpan Portal has been launched for  real-time monitoring,  self-assessment, and grading of  food  grain  storage depots, enhancing transparency, efficiency,  and  security through  IoT  sensors,  CCTV,  geotagged data, and AI  for  evaluating infrastructure  (safety, environment) and operations (profitability,  stock loss). Launched by  the  Department of Food &  Public Distribution  (DFPD),  it provides performance ratings and drives continuous improvement in India's food security system.
- Anna Chakra - PDS supply chain optimization tool  developed in  collaboration with  IIT Delhi and WFP has been successfully deployed in  all  36 States/UTs. Tool has led to reduction in transportation costs and improved efficiency. ·

(b): At  present, a total  number of  13,926 (100%) Fair Price Shops (FPSs) in Odisha have been automated by  installing  ePoS devices for  the distribution of  foodgrains  in  a transparent manner (electronically) through biometric/ Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries.  The district-wise Fair Price Shops (FPSs) automated in Odisha is at Annexure.

(c): At  present in  Odisha, 100% Ration  cards have been seeded with  Aadhar and 97.84% of distribution  of food  grains under the NFS A  scheme is through Aadhaar authentication. Foodgrains are being distributed using offline  modes in ePOS devices where network issues are present in remote tribal  areas. Further, all  States/UTs have been advised that  no  genuine beneficiary/ household  shall be denied from  receiving entitled quota of subsidized foodgrains due to failure'of biometric/  Aadhaar authentication due to  network/ connectivity/  linking  related issues, other technical reasons or poor biometrics of the beneficiary.

Under Section 10 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, the responsibility for identifying eligible and ineligible households rests entirely with the State/UT Governments. As per Section 10(1), each State/UT is required to  frame its own  inclusion  and exclusion guidelines and identify  Antyodaya  Anna Yojana  (AAY)  and Priority  Households (PHH) within  the coverage limits  determined under the  Act.  Further, Section 10(2) mandates that States/UTs must periodically review  and update their  beneficiary lists  in  accordance with  these guidelines. Accordingly, the  statutory authority for  identification, validation, and updation of  NFS A beneficiaries lies exclusively  with the respective State/UT Governments.

(d): As reported by  Government of  Odisha, the doorstep delivery  is tracked seamlessly from the State Food Storage Godown software application in  real-time. Once stock is dispatched, the Gate Pass lands remotely in the ePoS of the FPS Dealer. Once the consignment reaches physically at FPS Dealer's doorstep, Dealer accepts it  and the response are pushed from  ePoS to  Godown interface confirming delivery.

- (e): The Government of  India is running multiple  initiatives for  citizens to lodge grievances, such as the Nlera Ration mobile app, the NFS A portal, Anna Sahayata (WhatsApp and IVRS) and a dedicated portal  named  'Centralized Public  Grievance Redress and  Monitoring System' (CPGRAMS).

Under Anna Sahayata, a total  of  18,532 grievances were received, out of  which  7,452 have been resolved, reflecting  an overall  resolution  rate of 40%.

In  CPGRAMS, Odisha received a total  of  109 PDS-related  grievances, out  of  which 03 grievances have been disposed of, and 106 grievances remain pending  with  the State.

SeScSe  see

## Annexu re

## The district-wise  Fair Price Shops (FPSs) automated in Odisha

| S. No.   | District       |   Fair Price Shops FPSs) |
|----------|----------------|--------------------------|
| 1        | ANUGUL         |                      518 |
| 2        | BALANG IR      |                      804 |
| 3        | BALESHWAR      |                      985 |
| 4        | BARGARH        |                      359 |
| 5        | BHADRAK        |                      503 |
| 6        | BOUDH          |                      133 |
| 7        | CUTTAC K       |                      991 |
| 8        | DEOGARH        |                       84 |
| 9        | DHENKANAL      |                      650 |
| 10       | GAJAPATI       |                      365 |
| 11       | GANJAM         |                      972 |
| 12       | JAGATSINGHAPUR |                      597 |
| 13       | JAJAPU R       |                      758 |
| 14       | JHARSUG UDA    |                      160 |
| 15       | KALAHAN Dl     |                      339 |
| 16       | KANDHARnAL     |                      192 |
| 17       | KENDRAPARA     |                      583 |
| 18       | KENDUJ HAR     |                      415 |
| 19       | KHORDHA        |                      560 |
| 20       | KORAPUT        |                      408 |
| 21       | MALKANGIRI     |                      119 |
| 22       | MAYURBHANJ     |                      732 |
| 23       | NABARANGPU R   |                      477 |
| 24       | NAYAGARH       |                      301 |
| 25       | NUAPADA        |                      159 |
| 26       | PURI           |                      608 |
| 27       | RNXNGNVN       |                      238 |
| 28       | SAMBALPUR      |                      223 |
| 29       | SONEPUR        |                      122 |
| 30       | SUNDARGARH     |                      571 |
| Total    | Total          |                    13926 |