Odisha to Set Up Jan Poshan Kendras in All Panchayats

Bhubaneswar: In a major move to strengthen food security and provide relief from rising prices, the Odisha government has announced plans to establish Jan Poshan Kendras in every panchayat across the state. These centres will offer essential food items such as rice, atta, sugar, salt, and pulses at subsidised rates.

Announcing the initiative, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra said the scheme will begin with a pilot phase involving five Jan Poshan Kendras. The objective of this phase is to assess implementation challenges and gather public feedback before scaling the project statewide.

What distinguishes this initiative is its inclusive focus on the middle-class segment, a group often overlooked in welfare schemes but heavily affected by the inflation in daily essentials.

“The Jan Poshan Kendras will aim to support not just the traditionally underprivileged but also middle-income families burdened by the rising cost of living,” said Minister Patra.

To ensure transparency and effective targeting, the government is currently in the process of finalising eligibility criteria for beneficiaries. The concerned department is also drafting detailed operational guidelines, the minister added.

The scheme is being viewed as a strategic intervention to support food accessibility and affordability at the grassroots level in both rural and semi-urban Odisha.