The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Rs 25,530 crore Sarthak Public Distribution System (PDS) scheme, aimed at modernising the country's food distribution network that currently supports nearly 80 crore beneficiaries. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the initiative would provide assistance to state agencies for intra-state movement of food grains while modernising and strengthening the PDS network over the next five years.
Structural Reform of PDS
The minister emphasised that this 'structural reform of the entire PDS system' is not intended to replace the existing framework but to improve transportation, logistics, and material-handling efficiencies across the network. The Cabinet also approved revised norms for central assistance to states and Union Territories to meet expenditure incurred on intra-state movement and handling of food grains, as well as fair price shop dealers' margins. It cleared the continuation of the existing funding pattern for central assistance.
PM Modi's Cleanliness Directive
Meanwhile, chairing a Pragati meeting on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed housing and urban affairs ministry officials to first identify 50 cities and achieve 100% cleanliness in them in all aspects, from making them garbage-free to processing all their solid and liquid waste. According to sources, Modi suggested that the ministry and state governments collaborate to demonstrate this as an example while continuing their efforts to make cities cleaner. The ministry made a detailed presentation on the progress of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0.
