Pralhad Joshi Launches Multiple Initiatives to Strengthen India's Food Security Ecosystem

The Minister also noted the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another five years with a financial outlay of around Rs 12 lakh crore.

On August 19, 2024, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, launched several significant programs aimed at enhancing India's food security and public distribution system. The initiatives include the pilot transformation of 60 Fair Price Shops (FPS) into Jan Poshan Kendras, the FPS Sahay application, Mera Ration app 2.0, a Quality Management System, a Quality Manual Handbook, and the NABL accreditation of three laboratories.

Jan Poshan Kendra Pilot:

Objective: Transform 60 FPS into Jan Poshan Kendras across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Features: These Kendras will focus on providing nutrition-rich food items and additional income sources for FPS dealers. They will allocate 50% of their space to nutrition products and the rest to other household items.

Significance: Aimed at improving the income levels of FPS dealers and enhancing the availability of nutritious food.

FPS Sahay Application:

Developed by: SIDBI.

Function: An on-demand Invoice Based Financing (IBF) app offering paperless, collateral-free, cash flow-based financing to FPS dealers.

Mera Ration App 2.0:

Function: An updated mobile app with enhanced features for beneficiaries and officials, providing better access to ration card and Public Distribution System (PDS) information.

Quality Management System (QMS):

Function: Integrates Quality Control labs in the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) and Food Corporation of India (FCI). It ensures real-time monitoring of procurement, storage, and distribution stages.

Quality Manual Handbook:

Purpose: Provides comprehensive guidelines on quality control procedures, standards, and policies to ensure the strict quality of central pool foodgrains.

Contract Manual of FCI:

Purpose: Aims to clarify contract procedures, promote transparency, and increase participation in FCI tenders.

NABL Accreditation of Laboratories:

Purpose: Ensures compliance with international standards, enhances quality and reliability in testing and calibration, and improves customer confidence.

Minister’s Remarks

Shri Joshi highlighted the importance of these initiatives in reinforcing the food security ecosystem. He emphasized that these programs will improve transparency, ensure quality control, and help curb malnutrition. The Jan Poshan Kendras, in particular, are expected to address FPS dealers' income needs and provide a diversified range of nutritional products.

The Minister also noted the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for another five years with a financial outlay of around Rs 12 lakh crore. This extension aims to expand food security coverage across the country.

In line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India) by 2047, these initiatives reflect the government's commitment to improving public distribution systems and food security. The Department remains open to suggestions from stakeholders for further innovations and enhancements.

These steps mark a significant advancement in India’s efforts to modernize its food distribution systems, improve service delivery, and ensure better outcomes for beneficiaries across the nation.