The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light for the “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS” (SARTHAK PDS) to continue as an umbrella scheme for the next five years with a budget of Rs 25,530 crore from the Centre. This decision also includes revising the norms for Central assistance to cover expenses incurred by states and UTs on intra-state movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin. The scheme is aimed at enhancing the implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
The SARTHAK-PDS Scheme is designed to offer financial support for intra-state movement, handling, and FPS dealer’s margin, while establishing a unified, citizen-centric, intelligent, and interoperable PDS architecture. This architecture is intended to ensure efficient last-mile service delivery, reduce leakages, and reinforce the country’s commitment to food security under NFSA until March 31, 2031. The scheme also focuses on modernizing and optimizing PDS operations through cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, and Blockchain.
The government’s objective is to provide a dignified life to the nation’s people by guaranteeing access to food and nutritional security through the availability of quality food grains. With a commitment to the 81.35 crore individuals covered under the NFSA, the scheme aligns with the statutory and policy framework. By integrating financial assistance within a modern, technology-driven PDS ecosystem, SARTHAK-PDS aims to enhance transparency, security, and sustainability in PDS operations. Various digitization initiatives have been implemented over the past decade, including end-to-end computerization of TPDS, IM-PDS, and SMART PDS, along with citizen-centric applications like Mera Ration and Anna Mitra.
