Odisha govt to distribute ragi among PDS cardholders

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to distribute ragi among the Public Distribution System (PDS) cardholders to improve their nutritional consumption, said an official on Monday.

Every PDS cardholder will get one kg of ragi at Rs 1 as a pilot project in seven districts-Gajpati, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nuapada and Rayagada in the month of July.

The cardholders in Malkangiri district will be supplied two kgs of ragi. 

This has been decided in Odisha Millet Mission meeting held under the chairmanship of chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here on Monday.

Padhi further directed the Millet Mission to promote consumption of ragi in urban pockets through tie up with bakeries, biscuits manufacturers, sweet stalls and mega retail counters.

Around 17,500 quintals of ragi would be distributed to the PDS cardholders, informed Agriculture secretary Sourav Garg.

The future of the programme will depend on the acceptability of the people and the impact of the pilot project.