Grain ATM:
India’s first round-the-clock grain ATM was opened at Mancheswar in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
- Grain ATM is known as Annapurti Grain ATM which was designed and developed by the World Food Programme India.
- The Annapurti provides universal access: anyone with a Public Distribution System ration card valid in India, regardless of the State and Union Territory, can access their entitlement.
- It can dispense grain up to 50 kilograms in five minutes 24 hours a day, reducing waiting time by 70 percent.
- It is an automated multi-commodity dispensing solution that provides fast, clean and precise access to commodities (rice, wheat, grains) to beneficiaries, post biometric authentication.
- Once biometric authentication is completed, it provides consistent access to the full food ration.
- The modular design allows easy assembly based on available space.
- Annapurti is energy efficient and can be connected to solar panels for automatic refilling.
