Cabinet okays Rs 25k crore scheme to modernise PDS scheme

NEW DELHI: Cabinet Wednesday approved the Rs 25,530 crore Sarthak Public Distribution System (PDS) scheme, aimed at modernising the country's food distribution network, which currently supports nearly 80 crore beneficiaries.

I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the initiative would provide assistance to state agencies for intra-state movement of food grains, while also modernising and strengthening PDS network over next five years.

The minister said the "structural reform of the entire PDS system" is not intended to replace existing framework but to improve transportation, logistics and material-handling efficiencies across the network.

Cabinet also approved revised norms for central assistance to states/UTs to meet expenditure incurred on intra-state movement and handling of food grains, as well as FPS dealers' margins. It cleared continuation of existing funding pattern for central assistance.

Pick 50 cities and make them 100% clean, PM tells officials

Chairing a Pragati meeting on Wednesday, PM Narendra Modi told the 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.

TOI has learnt that Modi suggested the ministry and state govts collaborate to demonstrate this as an example while continuing their efforts to make cities cleaner. The ministry made a detailed presentation on progress of Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0.