Raipur: A major step has been taken today to modernize the Public Distribution System (PDS) in Chhattisgarh. This initiative will spare people from standing in long queues at ration shops. Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel virtually inaugurated ‘Grain ATMs’ in three cities, including the capital, Raipur.
Minister Baghel stated that the Grain ATM system has been introduced in Chhattisgarh for the first time, starting in Raipur, Bilaspur, and Durg. Chhattisgarh has now become the fifth state in the country to offer rice dispensing via ATMs. These ATMs can be used not only by beneficiaries from Chhattisgarh but also by ration card holders from other states such as Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh.
He mentioned that robust security arrangements have been put in place for these 24-hour operational Grain ATMs; security guards will be stationed at the sites alongside CCTV surveillance. The machine has a capacity of 2,500 kilograms, and the rice-loading process is automated. Beyond eliminating the need to wait in long lines, this system allows beneficiaries to collect rice at their own convenience and time.
