India's first 24/7 grain ATM opens in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar

Odisha: India’s first round-the-clock grain ATM was launched on Thursday in Mancheswar in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar. The new machine, named Annapurti Grain ATM, was inaugurated by Odisha's Minister for Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare, Krushna Chandra Patra, with Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme in India, present at the ceremony.

Minister Patra announced that similar grain ATMs will be set up across all districts in Odisha, "Today is a historic day. They can get the rice from the machine and take it easily. It is a very easy step. This will be launched in all the districts of the state," Patra told reporters. He explained that these machines aim to eliminate delays by dealers in distributing the food grains that beneficiaries are entitled to under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

The Annapurti Grain ATM is designed to be user-friendly. Beneficiaries simply need to input their Aadhaar or Ration card number and complete biometric verification to receive their allotted grains. The machine, developed in partnership with the World Food Programme, is expected to enhance nutritional security in the State.

The World Food Programme highlighted that the ATM will dispense rice and wheat around the clock. The machine can provide up to 50 kilograms of grain in just five minutes with a very low error rate of 0.01 percent. After biometric verification, it ensures consistent access to the full ration.

With its modular design, the Annapurti Grain ATM can be easily assembled in various spaces. It is also energy efficient, using only 0.6 watts per hour and can be connected to solar panels for automatic refilling. This innovation is set to reduce waiting times by 70 percent, providing 24/7 access to essential food supplies.

Agencies