Bhubaneswar, Sep 4: Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Wednesday informed the Assembly that the previous BJD government had spent staggering Rs 247.36 crore on distributing empty jute bags to ration card holders across the State in preparation for the 2024 general elections.

In response to a query from Jagatsinghpur MLA Amarendra Das, Patra said that jute bags, emblazoned with the 5T (Transformative Initiative) logo and the slogan ‘Ama Odisha Nabin Odisha,’ were distributed in all 147 assembly constituencies.

Additionally, the government provided Rs 1,000 in cash to each family covered under the public distribution system (PDS), totaling Rs 959.05 crore in assistance. Patra acknowledged that there is no provision to aid those who did not receive the benefits.

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