Anna Chakra Initiative

GS3 – Agriculture – Pds 

Context:
The ‘Anna Chakra’ portal, developed in collaboration with the Department of Food and Public Distribution, the World Food Programme (WFP), and IIT-Delhi’s Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer, aims to modernize India’s Public Distribution System (PDS).

Key Features of Anna Chakra

1. Supply Chain Optimisation:
   • Enhances logistics efficiency in food grain distribution using advanced algorithms to identify optimal transportation routes.
2. Integration with Key Platforms:
   • Railways’ FOIS Portal: Linked via the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).
   • PM Gati Shakti Platform: Maps geo-locations of Fair Price Shops (FPS) and warehouses.
3. Cost Savings and Environmental Impact:
   • Savings: Expected to save ₹250 crores annually.
   • Carbon Footprint: Reduces transportation emissions.
4. Performance Metric:
   • Uses Quantity in Quintal x Distance in Kilometers (QKM) to measure transportation efficiency by tracking the volume of goods moved and distance covered.

Challenges in the Public Distribution System (PDS)

1. Beneficiary Identification Issues:
   • Significant inclusion and exclusion errors in identifying Below-Poverty-Line (BPL) and Above-Poverty-Line (APL) households due to unreliable data.
2. Corruption and Leakages:
   • Subsidised goods are often diverted for open-market sales by middlemen and corrupt officials.
3. Rising Costs:
   • The cost of procuring and distributing food grains is almost six times their retail price, questioning sustainability.
4. Storage Limitations:
   • Storage capacity is inadequate, with 64% concentrated in a few states, leading to potential wastage.
5. Quality Concerns:
   • Inconsistent quality of rationed grains, particularly wheat and rice.
6. Financial Burden:
   • Escalating food subsidy costs have significantly increased the financial load on the government.

Government Initiatives for Food Security

1. National Food Security Act (NFSA):
   • Provides legal entitlement to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban populations to access subsidised food grains.
2. Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY):
   • Extended for five years starting January 2024, offering free food grains to beneficiaries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. PM POSHAN (POshan SHAkti Nirman) Scheme:
   • Focuses on improving children’s nutritional status in government and government-aided schools.
4. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY):
   • Targets the most vulnerable segments, providing subsidised food grains to eligible households.
5. Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme:
   • Offers subsidies for phosphatic and potassic fertilisers.
6. NutriHarvest Project:
   • Promotes biofortified crops such as iron pearl millet and zinc wheat to enhance access to nutritious food and support farmers.

Way Forward

The Anna Chakra initiative signifies a technological leap in modernizing the PDS by enhancing efficiency and reducing costs while addressing storage and quality challenges. Continued government focus on reforms and effective implementation of food security initiatives will ensure broader benefits for India’s vulnerable populations.