Sri Vijaya Puram, May 1:
In a move aimed at improving food security and ensuring smooth distribution logistics, the administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has announced that Public Distribution System (PDS) food grains will be supplied in advance for two months, covering both May and June 2025.
All eligible ration card holders can now lift their food grains entitlement for both months in one go, beginning May 1 through to June 30. This decision, communicated by the Civil Supplies Department, is designed to offer flexibility to beneficiaries, particularly those residing in remote or hard-to-reach areas where frequent trips to ration outlets are logistically challenging.
The initiative comes at a time when the Islands are focusing on enhancing the efficiency of welfare distribution mechanisms. Providing a two-month stock upfront ensures families can better plan their household needs and avoid the burden of repeated collection trips.
While the system is flexible, authorities clarified that beneficiaries who are unable to collect their rations in May can still collect the full two-month entitlement in June. This staggered window is expected to reduce congestion at ration shops and allow for better crowd management, particularly as the summer heat intensifies.
Beneficiaries are urged to check their entitlements carefully and visit their designated fair price shops during the announced collection window. Ration dealers have been instructed to maintain accurate distribution records and ensure transparency in the process.
Officials from the Civil Supplies Department emphasized that the advance distribution is part of a larger administrative push to strengthen food security, improve stock management, and enhance the overall resilience of the PDS network in the Islands.
