Maharashtra’s first advanced ‘Annapurti Grain ATM’ was inaugurated by State Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Minister Chhagan Bhujbal in Nashik.
The initiative aims to provide food grains to eligible beneficiaries at their convenience, beyond the fixed operating hours of fair-price shops.
Maharashtra has around 54,000 fair-price shops serving approximately 7 to 7.5 crore beneficiaries under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The government is prioritising transparent distribution, eliminating procedural errors and ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive their entitled food grains.
Mr Bhujbal said that the grain ATM would be particularly beneficial for people who find it difficult to collect their rations during regular shop hours due to work commitments.
Of the three grain ATMs planned across Maharashtra, the first has been launched in Nashik, while the next two are proposed to be set up in Nagpur and Thane.