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Earlier this week, Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that the government would invest approximately INR 1,280 crore to upgrade infrastructure across godowns operated by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC). Of the total, FCI will contribute INR 1,000 crore, while CWC will invest INR 280 crore. The move aims to bolster transparency and efficiency in the public distribution system (PDS), helping to deliver quality foodgrains to over 80 crore citizens. Alongside infrastructure upgrades, the government launched three new mobile applications to strengthen monitoring and curb inefficiencies.
The Union Government recently unveiled plans to invest around INR 1,280 crore towards modernising existing foodgrain storage facilities managed by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC). Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi, while addressing a conference in New Delhi, stated that the initiative was focused on upgrading infrastructure using advanced technologies to increase transparency and efficiency in the public distribution system (PDS), while also aiming to curb leakages. Advertisement
He informed that the FCI would allocate INR 1,000 crore and the CWC would contribute INR 280 crore specifically for enhancing their respective storage facilities. The modernisation programme will span across 2,278 godowns, including both owned and hired units.
Speaking at the sidelines of the conference, Joshi mentioned that the investment was being directed towards technology and infrastructure improvements, which were expected to yield significant savings for both organisations by minimising losses at multiple levels of the distribution chain.
He affirmed that the government was well-prepared to manage foodgrain storage and distribution in the event of emergencies. According to him, the central stockpile held ample quantities of rice and wheat, and food inflation was currently under control.
Additionally, Joshi disclosed that storage capacity expansion was underway on a national scale. He noted that the Ministry of Co-operation was in the process of developing 700 lakh tonnes of storage capacity, backed by an investment of over INR 1 lakh crore.
As part of the effort to reinforce the PDS framework, Joshi launched three new mobile applications-Depot Darpan, Anna Mitra, and Anna Sahayata. He commented that despite some unscrupulous elements within the system, these digital tools would assist in curbing leakages and minimising foodgrain wastage.
Highlighting the scale of foodgrain movement, he stated that FCI, which is the government's main agency for procurement and distribution, handles approximately 420 lakh tonnes of foodgrains annually. Across the country, there are around 5.3 lakh ration shops through which distribution takes place.
As the government works to expand capacity and enhance operational efficiency, these initiatives are expected to not only safeguard national reserves during exigencies but also build a more resilient and accountable PDS network. The move aligns with broader agricultural reforms aimed at reducing losses and better serving the country's massive beneficiary base.
Source - PTI
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