Latest news with #DistributionSystem
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
To streamline food grain distribution, UP to construct 75-100 Annapurna Bhawans in each district
Lucknow: In a bid to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) and enhancing the accessibility of food grains through ration shops, the UP cabinet on Tuesday announced the construction of ration shops/Annapurna Bhawan using alternate financial means. Besides Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS), these buildings will be constructed under various central and state govt schemes such as Sansad Nidhi, Vidhayak Nidhi, Tourism Development Funds, and Bundelkhand Vikas Nidhi, or through any other govt-approved scheme. The construction aims to ensure the smooth and permanent availability of food grains to eligible cardholders. In areas where such funding schemes are unavailable, arrangements will be made through the department of food and civil supplies by utilizing departmental savings. The govt has planned an annual construction of 75 to 100 Annapurna Bhawan across each district, depending on local needs and feasibility. Along with construction a provision has been made for the maintenance and upkeep of these buildings to ensure their long-term utility. This initiative is expected to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the PDS, especially in rural and underdeveloped regions, by providing permanent structures for ration distribution.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
FM Sitharaman lauds fintechs for boosting digital infrastructure, empowering small businesses and welfare delivery
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday acknowledged India's fintech firms' contribution to expanding the country's digital public infrastructure (DPI) and in enabling seamless, secure and inclusive financial services for merchants and micro and small medium enterprises. Sitharaman was visiting Pine Labs, a digital fintech company, in Noida, and witnessed demonstrations on innovative Fintech solutions being developed around prepaid instruments, the Account Aggregator (AA) framework, and digital services used in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and other government schemes & services. During her visit she also interacted with individuals who greatly benefitted from India's growing fintech ecosystem and robust digital public infrastructure (DPI). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The finance minister in the past has also hailed DPI while noting that direct benefit transfer systems have aided about 650 million people who received $322 billion directly into their accounts, leading to overall savings of more than $27 billion just across key central government services and schemes. 'Leveraging the potential of identity and payments through DPI alone, India's record opening of 462.5 million low-cost bank accounts with 56% of account holders being women. This has enabled us to transform the govt service delivery by building the world's largest direct benefit transfer systems,' she had earlier said in a speech. Live Events
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Time of India
Over 2,000 kg of smuggled PDS rice seized at Chennai Egmore Railway Station
CHENNAI: In a targeted operation against the illegal transportation of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice, Railway Protection Force ( RPF ) personnel seized approximately 2,000 kilograms of smuggled rice at Chennai Egmore Railway Station on Saturday evening. The special drive was conducted on May 25, between 5 pm and 6.30 pm, by a team led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Joseph Amala Dass along with Head Constables G Kannan, V Kumaravel, and N Rajesh under the Chennai Egmore RPF division. During the operation, the team identified and confiscated 40 unclaimed bags filled with smuggled PDS rice, weighing around two metric tonnes. The rice bags, suspected to have been illegally diverted from the govt-subsidised distribution network, were found abandoned on the railway premises. Authorities suspect that the smugglers intended to transport the rice using the railway network before abandoning the consignment fearing police surveillance. The seized goods were handed over to Head Constable Velmurugan of the Chennai South Civil Supplies CID for further investigation and legal action. Police officials stated that efforts are ongoing to trace the source of the rice and identify individuals involved in the smuggling operation. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has increased vigilance at key transit points to prevent further misuse of the railway system for illegal transport of essential commodities.
