Cabinet approves Rs 25,530 crore SARTHAK PDS scheme for next 5 years

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the continuation of the “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS” (SARTHAK PDS) as an umbrella scheme for the next five years with an outlay of Rs 25,530 crore as the Centre’s share.

The CCEA has also decided to revise the norms of Central assistance for meeting expenditure incurred by states and UTs on intra-state movement and handling of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin and continuation of the existing funding pattern of central assistance, according to an official statement.

The Scheme is conceived as an umbrella scheme, in the 16th Finance Commission cycle award period, integrating the ongoing schemes of “Assistance to State Agencies for intra-State movement of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA” and the “Scheme for Modernisation and Reforms through Technology in Public Distribution System (SMART PDS)” to comprehensively strengthen implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA), the statement said.

SARTHAK-PDS Scheme aims to provide assured financial support for intra-state movement, handling and FPS dealer’s margin, and a unified, citizen-centric, intelligent and interoperable PDS architecture that ensures last-mile service delivery, minimises leakages, and strengthens the nation’s commitment to food security under NFSA, with the merged scheme to operate up to March 31, 2031.

It seeks to modernise, integrate and intelligently optimize PDS operations through advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Blockchain, by creating standardised architectures and unified databases for real-time monitoring, AI-driven grievance and analytics systems, State Command Control Centres for data-driven oversight, and ISO-certified process frameworks to ensure transparency, security and sustainability in PDS operations.

The Centre has a social and legal commitment to the people of the nation – a dignified life by ensuring them access to food and nutritional security through the availability of adequate quantities of quality food grains. The scheme will work towards fulfilling the government’s commitment to 81.35 crore persons covered under the NFSA. Building on the statutory and policy framework, SARTHAK-PDS retains and streamlines the financial assistance component while simultaneously embedding it within a modern, technology-driven PDS ecosystem, the statement said.

Over the past decade, the government has implemented multiple digitisation initiatives such as end-to-end computerisation of TPDS, Integrated Management of PDS (IM-PDS) and SMART PDS, along with citizen-facing applications like Mera Ration, Anna Mitra, Rightful Targeting Dashboard, and Anna Sahayata. Since 1st April 2023, the SMART PDS scheme has acted as the cornerstone of technology-led reforms by enabling complete digitisation of ration cards, Aadhaar seeding, FPS automation through e-PoS, online allocation and computerised supply-chain management across 36 States and UTs, the statement added.

–IANS

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Chhattisgarh: Security forces identify Maoists’ bodies, search operation continues

Raipur/Bijapur, Jan 29 (IANS) Security forces have identified the bodies of two notorious Maoist cadres who were neutralised on Thursday in an extensive search operation.

They have been identified as ACM (Area Committee Member) Pradeep alias Joga and Bhima Weko. Their bodies were recovered from the encounter site in the Kawargatta area of South Bijapur in Chhattisgarh. These cadres belonged to the Pamed Area Committee and carried declared rewards of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively, police officials said.

The two were involved in various violent incidents in the Pamed Area Committee region, including the murder of Bhima Madkam, the former Sarpanch of Kawargatta Gram Panchayat.

Security forces recovered one AK-47 rifle, one 9mm pistol, ammunition, explosives, and other Naxalite materials from the site.

A large-scale search operation continues in the area with teams from DRG, Bastar Fighters, and CRPF actively involved.

Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav said that based on specific intelligence about the presence of armed Maoist cadres from the Pamed Area Committee in the Kawargatta-Gundrajgudem forest and hilly terrain under Pamed police station limits in Bijapur district, the DRG team launched a search operation on the evening of January 28.

An exchange of fire occurred between DRG personnel and the Maoists starting around 7:00 a.m. on January 29. After the firing, the bodies of two uniformed Maoist cadres were recovered during the subsequent search.

Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj Pattilingam, noted that both cadres were linked to multiple violent incidents and murders of civilians in the region, including the recent killing of the former Sarpanch.

Jitendra Kumar Yadav emphasised that continuous intelligence-based operations against Maoists in the district have led to consistent successes for security forces.

The killed cadres were active members with bounties on their heads, and such operations will proceed with full determination to ensure peace, security, and development in the district. Sundarraj Pattilingam added that ongoing anti-Naxal operations in the Bastar Range have weakened the Maoist organisation significantly, bringing it close to collapse.

Security forces remain fully committed to the safety of local citizens. The elimination of these two cadres, known for civilian murders and violence, has provided relief and a greater sense of security to the local population.

He appealed once more to remaining cadres to abandon violence, surrender, and join mainstream life through the government’s rehabilitation policy, warning that otherwise, security forces are prepared to take decisive legal action.

Extensive and intensive search operations by additional teams of DRG, Bastar Fighters, and CRPF remain underway in the area.

–IANS

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Congress schemes have put Rs 1 lakh crore in poor’s pockets, says Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar

Bengaluru, Aug 20 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said that the Congress-led government had “put Rs 1 lakh crore directly into the pockets of the poor” through various public welfare schemes.

Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state unit chief, made the remark at the state party office here during the celebration of the birth anniversaries of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs.

“Our government has been running guarantee schemes for the past two years. People must be reminded of these schemes. We have issued these schemes as tools to empower you, and they must be used properly. For example, Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated for free electricity for farmers, Rs 10,000 crore for various pension schemes, Rs 52,000 crore for the five guarantee schemes, and combined with other social welfare schemes, our government is putting around Rs 1 lakh crore into the pockets of the poor,” Shivakumar stated after paying floral tributes to the portraits of these leaders.

“Did BJP or the other parties have any such programme? When I was an MLA, during then-CM J.H. Patel’s tenure in the state, Rs 1 lakh was granted to panchayats. During CM S.M. Krishna’s tenure at the head of the Congress government, we increased it to Rs 5 lakh and included 27 departments under panchayats. This is how the Congress empowers local governance,” he said.

“Regarding JD-S, what sacrifices have the Gowdas (former PM H.D. Deve Gowda) and their families made? And the BJP – what was their contribution during the freedom struggle? After coming to power, did they ensure food for the poor? Did they give land to farmers? Regarding free electricity for farmers, initially, late (Chief Minister S.) Bangarappa and I, as ministers, increased it from 6 hours to 7 hours. Earlier, Rs 800 crore was spent annually; now we are allocating Rs 20,000 crore,” he added.

“Today is an inspiring day for the youth. Recently, our youth leader B.V. Srinivas organised the ‘Run for Rajiv’ marathon, which saw around 15,000 participants at 5.30 a.m., including many common citizens. People still remember Rajiv Gandhi’s contributions,” he said.

“I remember when I was a student in the general hostel, there was no telephone connectivity in our village. It would take 3–4 years to get one. Today, everyone owns two or three phones. Rajiv Gandhi brought the revolution of computers and telecommunications to this country,” Shivakumar said.

The Deputy Chief Minister remembered that the former Prime Minister had brought the 74th Amendment to the Constitution to ensure leadership from panchayats to Parliament. “Yesterday, BJP leaders were raising objections to the 74th Amendment. To implement it properly, we are creating five municipal corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA),” he said.

“Rajiv Gandhi had a special concern for youth. He lowered the voting age from 21 years to 18 years… We remember such visionary leaders,” he added.

“Rajiv Gandhi had instructed Bangarappa to ensure that youth from all communities get opportunities. During communal clashes in Channapatna, Rajiv Gandhi personally came to the state. I was an MLA of a part of Channapatna then. He discussed many matters with me in his car… then CM Veerendra Patil’s health was failing at that time. Rajiv Gandhi did not wish to change leadership, but due to health reasons, the decision was made to appoint Bangarappa. He also instructed that opportunities must be given to youth of all communities. Instead of senior leader Chikke Gowda in the district, I became a minister,” Shivakumar said.

“Many leaders who are now Chief Ministers in various states grew during Rajiv Gandhi’s time. No other party leaders can match the sacrifices made by Congress leaders for the nation’s integrity and peace. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has written to hold student elections; a committee will be formed to decide how to conduct them,” he said.

–IANS

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Hospital admissions worth Rs 7,704 cr availed under AB-PMJAY for maternal, child health: Govt

New Delhi, July 22 (IANS) Hospital admissions worth Rs 7,704 crore have been availed as part of the maternal and child health packages under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), said Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel on Tuesday, in the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Patel stated that AB-PMJAY’s Health Benefit Package 2022 (launched in 2022) saw more than 72 lakh mother and child hospital admissions.

“Under the Health Benefit Package 2022 (HBP 2022) of AB-PMJAY, 28 packages related to maternal health and 13 packages related to child health are available. As on date, 72.13 lakhs hospital admissions have been availed under these packages, amounting to Rs 7,704.37 crores,” Patel said.

AB-PMJAY is currently operational in 35 States and Union Territories, including the recent onboarding of Odisha and the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

Patel noted that the government has undertaken various initiatives and measures under the National Health Mission (NHM) to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes across the country.

This includes Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), optimising postnatal care, monthly village health, sanitation, and nutrition day, the establishment of Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) and Newborn Stabilisation Units (NBSUs), and campaigns to prevent pneumonia, diarrhoea, and Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB).

Further, Patel also listed the importance of ASHAs in boosting maternal and child healthcare in the country.

“The primary healthcare teams at Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), including frontline workers (ASHAs and ANMs), deliver comprehensive primary healthcare through 12 packages of services,” she said.

These services include care in pregnancy and childbirth, neonatal and infant health care services, and childhood and adolescent health care services at the community level.

At the community level, ASHAs serve as critical links between communities and the public health system by ensuring increased access to maternal and child healthcare services by mobilising women for antenatal check-ups, institutional deliveries, and postnatal care, contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes, the MoS said.

ASHAs also conduct home visits for identification of danger signs, counsel mothers on optimal feeding practices, etc., under Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care for Young children (HBYC) programmes, Patel said.

–IANS

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