It is the government’s priority to deliver food grains to every needy on time: PM Modi said!

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a major initiative of the government to make the Public Distribution System (PDS) more modern, transparent and effective. The Prime Minister posted on the social media platform ‘X’ and said that the government is fully committed to providing timely food grains to every needy person in the country.

PM Modi wrote in the ‘

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved the continuation of ‘Sarthak-PDS’ scheme for the next five years. The central government will spend about Rs 25,530 crore on this scheme. This amount will be given as the Centre’s share during the period of the 16th Finance Commission.

The government has prepared the framework of this new comprehensive scheme by combining two big schemes. These include the first scheme ‘Assistance to States for intra-state transportation of food grains and margins of Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers under the National Food Security Act (NFSA)’ and the second ‘Smart PDS’ scheme. Now both of these will be combined and implemented as ‘Sarthak-PDS’.

The objective of this scheme is not just to deliver ration, but to make the entire system technology-based and citizen-centric. The government wants to improve the delivery of food grains to the last person, reduce irregularities in the ration system, and increase transparency in the entire system. This scheme will remain in force till 31 March 2031.

The government will now use modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Blockchain in the PDS system. Under this, real time monitoring, AI based complaint redressal system, state command control center and integrated database for data based monitoring will be created. Besides, emphasis will also be laid on making the system safe and sustainable through ISO certified processes.

The Central Government said that it is its social and legal responsibility to provide a dignified life and food security to the people of the country. This scheme will help in providing food grains in a better way to 81.35 crore people covered under the National Food Security Act.

In the last decade, the government has taken several steps to digitalize the PDS. These include schemes like end-to-end computerization of TPDS, IM-PDS and Smart PDS. At the same time, mobile apps and digital platforms like Mera Ration, Anna Mitra, Rightful Targeting Dashboard and Anna Sahayata have also been launched.

Smart PDS scheme remains the main link of technology based reforms from April 1, 2023. Through this, works like digitization of ration cards, Aadhaar seeding, automation of fair price shops through e-POS machines, online ration allocation and computerized supply chain management have been implemented in all the 36 states and union territories of the country.