India’s first grain ATM

In news
The country’s first ‘grain ATM’ has been set up at Farrukhnagar area of Gurugram.

About Grain ATM(Annapurti)

It is a pilot project that has been launched as part of the Haryana government’s initiative to ensure food supplies.
The purpose of installing this machine is to ensure that the right quantity of ration reaches beneficiaries.
The ATM can dispense up to 70 kg of grain within five to seven minutes at a time.
Three types of grains such as wheat, rice and millets will be distributed through the machine.
Currently, wheat is being distributed through the grain ATM installed in Farrukhnagar.
It is equipped with a biometric system with a touch screen where the beneficiary will have to enter the Aadhaar card or ration card number.
Upon authentication, the foodgrain allocated by the state government for a beneficiary will be automatically filled in bags kept under the machine.
This machine will be installed under the ”World Food Programme” of United Nations, and is called Automated, Multi Commodity, Grain Dispensing Machine

It works like a bank ATM and will be installed under the UN’s World Food Programme across the state.
It is called an automated multi-commodity grain dispensing machine.
State government’s plan is to install these food supply machines at government depots across the state.

Significance & Benefits

With the installation of ‘grain ATMs’, all complaints on the time and right measurement of ration will be redressed in the state.
Grain ATM will not only benefit the consumers but will also redress the complaints on shortage of food grains at government depots.
It will also help ensure more transparency in the public food distribution system and save the time of depot operators.