Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given the green light to keep the “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS” (SARTHAK PDS) running as an umbrella scheme for the 16th finance commission award period, with a central expenditure of Rs 25,530 crore.
With this green light, improved standards for federal aid to states and union territories are in place to cover costs such food grain transportation within states, processing, and the profit margins of Fair Price Shop (FPS) vendors, all while keeping the same financing pattern.
Two existing programs, “Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA” and “Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS),” are combined in the SARTHAK-PDS scheme to enhance the implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
In order to strengthen food security mechanisms, improve last-mile delivery, and decrease leakages, the integrated scheme is building an intelligent and interoperable Public Distribution System (PDS) that is citizen-centric. It also aims to provide assured financial support for intra-state movement, handling, and FPS dealer margins. Until March 31, 2031, the scheme will be active.
The emphasis on changes driven by technology is a key aspect of SARTHAK-PDS. Implementing AI, ML, NLP, and Blockchain technology into PDS operations is the plan. Improving openness, safety, and efficiency will be the goals of these tools, which will enable real-time surveillance, unified databases, state command and control centers, and analytics and redress of grievances based on artificial intelligence.
According to the government, 81.35 crore people will benefit from the initiative, which is in line with its social and legal obligation to guarantee food and nutritional security.
Over the past decade, various digitisation initiatives have been implemented, including TPDS-End-to-End Computerisation, IM-PDS, and SMART PDS. Additionally, citizen-focused programs like Mera Ration, Anna Mitra, Rightful Targeting Dashboard, and Anna Sahayata have been developed. This endeavour builds on these efforts.
Complete digitisation of ration cards, Aadhaar seeding, FPS automation through e-PoS devices, online allocation, and computerised supply-chain management have all been made possible by the SMART PDS plan since April 1, 2023, driving technology-led changes throughout all 36 states and union territories.
Image Credit: The Hindu
Disclaimer: All news articles are sourced through valid sources, and Business Unlimited (BU) doesn’t have any exclusive rights on these pieces. If BU features any exclusive story or article, it will be marked as Exclusive Story.
