Odisha CM Majhi launches Annapurna Yojana, 10 kg free rice for 3.28 crore
Synopsis
Odisha's BJP government marked two years in power by doubling free rice for nearly 80% of the state's population — from 5 kg to 10 kg per beneficiary per month — under the newly launched Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, committing ₹8,813 crore annually. It is one of the most sweeping food-security expansions by any Indian state this year.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana on 12 June , marking the BJP government's second anniversary in Odisha.
Each beneficiary will now receive 10 kg of free rice per month — double the earlier 5 kg entitlement under NFSA and SFSS.
More than 3.28 crore beneficiaries from 1.96 crore families , covering nearly 80% of Odisha's population, will benefit.
The state will spend ₹8,813 crore annually on the scheme's implementation.
A 20-storey Janashraya Bhavan costing ₹874 crore was also announced, offering accommodation for around 2,000 visitors in Bhubaneswar.
72,224 Anganwadi workers , 2,802 lady supervisors , and 338 block coordinators will receive smartphones under a separate distribution drive.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 12 June launched the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana in Bhubaneswar, doubling the free rice entitlement for over 3.28 crore beneficiaries across the state. The scheme was unveiled at a function marking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led state government's second anniversary in office.
What the Scheme Provides
Under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, each beneficiary will now receive an additional 5 kg of rice free of cost every month, over and above the 5 kg already guaranteed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS). This brings the total monthly free rice entitlement to 10 kg per beneficiary.
The scheme covers more than 3.28 crore individuals from approximately 1.96 crore families — nearly 80 per cent of Odisha's total population. The state government has committed an annual outlay of ₹8,813 crore for its implementation.
What the Chief Minister Said
Launching the scheme, Chief Minister Majhi described it as more than a welfare programme. 'This is not merely a scheme. It is our government's commitment towards public welfare, compassion towards the poor, and a historic resolve to safeguard the food plate of every family in the state. This is our gift to the common people of Odisha on the occasion of our government's second anniversary,' he said.
On the annual expenditure of ₹8,813 crore, Majhi added: 'For us, this expenditure is not a cost, but a sacred social investment aimed at bringing smiles to the faces of the poor.' He said the government is guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'.
Other Launches on the Anniversary
The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for a 20-storey Janashraya Bhavan on Janpath, Bhubaneswar, at a cost of ₹874 crore. The building will provide short-term accommodation with modern amenities for around 2,000 people visiting the city from across Odisha, at affordable rates.
Additionally, Majhi launched a smartphone distribution drive targeting Anganwadi workers and supervisors statewide. A total of 72,224 Anganwadi workers, 2,802 lady supervisors, and 338 block coordinators will receive smartphones under the initiative.
Context and Significance
The Annapurna Yojana is among the most expansive food-security interventions announced by any state government this year in terms of beneficiary coverage. Notably, Odisha's existing NFSA and SFSS coverage already ranked among the highest in the country — the new scheme layers an additional entitlement on top of that base, effectively making Odisha one of the few states offering 10 kg of free rice per beneficiary per month.
The announcement comes as several state governments across India have expanded welfare programmes ahead of electoral cycles, though Odisha's next assembly election is not due until 2029. With the BJP marking two years in power after ending the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)'s two-decade hold on the state, the government appears keen to consolidate its welfare credentials among Odisha's large rural and Below Poverty Line (BPL) population.
Point of View
813 crore annually is not trivial for a state that still depends heavily on central transfers. The political calculus is clear: the BJP needs to demonstrate welfare delivery credentials to Odisha's predominantly rural electorate, where the BJD built its dominance over two decades on exactly this kind of ground-level provisioning. The harder question is whether stacking entitlements addresses the deeper structural issues — malnutrition, agricultural distress, rural unemployment — that make such schemes necessary in the first place. Welfare expansion without parallel investment in livelihoods risks creating permanent dependency rather than the 'self-reliant Odisha' Majhi invoked.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana launched in Odisha?
The Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana is a state food-security scheme launched by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on 12 June, which provides an additional 5 kg of free rice per month to beneficiaries already covered under the National Food Security Act and the State Food Security Scheme. This brings the total free rice entitlement to 10 kg per beneficiary per month, covering over 3.28 crore people.
How many people will benefit from the Annapurna Yojana in Odisha?
More than 3.28 crore beneficiaries from approximately 1.96 crore families will benefit — accounting for nearly 80 per cent of Odisha's total population. The scheme is one of the broadest food-security interventions announced by any Indian state this year in terms of coverage.
How much will the Odisha government spend on the Annapurna Yojana?
The Odisha state government has committed an annual expenditure of ₹8,813 crore for the scheme's implementation. Chief Minister Majhi described this outlay as a 'sacred social investment' rather than a cost.
What other projects were launched on the BJP government's second anniversary in Odisha?
Chief Minister Majhi also laid the foundation stone for a 20-storey Janashraya Bhavan on Janpath, Bhubaneswar, at a cost of ₹874 crore, designed to accommodate around 2,000 visitors at affordable rates. He also launched a smartphone distribution drive for 72,224 Anganwadi workers, 2,802 lady supervisors, and 338 block coordinators across the state.
How does the Annapurna Yojana differ from existing central food security schemes?
Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 and the State Food Security Scheme (SFSS), beneficiaries in Odisha were already receiving 5 kg of free rice per month. The Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana adds another 5 kg on top of this existing entitlement, making Odisha one of the few states offering a combined 10 kg of free rice per beneficiary per month.
