Summary of suggestions from participants

Theme 1: How can the PDS enable diversification (primarily through milletes
adaptation?
to facilitate nutrition security and climate
Category Sugestion Reasonine
The government may organize acountry wide
n It willurban
the helpural
to propagate knowiedge te
divide,,and
the benefits of milat a
efficient, inclusive, res promote amore
sustainable aurifood , and
consumption (climate a health) and other stem for better
grains. It may involve both, Above
c o a r s e or
production, better nutrition, and a better
the line (Social &Mass media, Wall environment.
paintings, banners & hoardings, etc.) and
below the-line ( FPS dealers, community
influencers, street vendors, dhaba wallas,
etc.) communication channels.
Astudy might be done on the impact of The study will give authenticity to the
Awareness various coarse grains on climate and health general belief that the conamptian ot
creation as compared to wheat and paddy and the coarse grains is beneficial ta atl.
results could be pubtished and disseminated
on a large scale.
Changing the perception of Millets from There ts a need to change eperception of
coarse grain to a miracle or future food the general masses, particuiarty PDs
through sustained campaigns. beneficiaries regarding coarse gratn.
Moreover, there isa rural v urban divide in
awareness level which needs to be bridged.
Promotion of iess processed millets and This will attract people tOwa
tOWards
millets and
recioes in street food, dhabas, army may improve the consumptton of millers
Caiteens, schoal & hospital canteens,
Overninent offices, ett.
Promocion and distribution of millet seed a Millets consume less water compared to
a satsidized rate for farmers. other crops like paddy and sugarcane tn
addition to their rich macronutrient as well
as micronutrient composition when
compared to rice and wheat. The input
subsidy may encourage the farmers to
cultivate more millet.
Enhancement of Currently, only a few States Micronutrients from Ragi and Bajra can
Production,
procure/ldistribute coarse grains under the improve nutritional status and can help in
TPDS. There is a huge gap in the production diversifying Indian diets.
Productivity, and and government procurement of millets. The
Procurement states may be incentivized for ramping up
the procurement for PDS.
Inclusion af small millets in the PDS supply It will promote diversity in diets as well as
chain.
encourage farmers to grow indigenous
varieties.
Promoting millet production to achieve Millets reduce the carbon footprint by
sustainable development. adapting to harsh climatic conditions at
compared to other crops.
 Coltstration between farmes, proxessors, Thus wiil inerease the direct interaction of
Entrepreneuship and marketers can increase millet suppiy the market witth the producers and increase
Start up, and
transparency and reduce the gaps. it will
Ceilective encour age the producers to grow more
Development millets.

Miets Can heip nus the nutritionat RIch in iron which increases haemoglobin
ih levels and reduces iron defticiency.
par ameters among children and women.
High nutritional vaiues should be included it Millets provide mcromutrients, have a tow
Nutrition and PDS glycemic index, and high fiber values, etc..
Health Benefits and may be hep
cardiova aetes,
enation, etc micro
Therefore, inclusion in PDS will maxiize
the reach of the rnillet to the last mile with

the existing system.

The governments should ensure the Increase demand for coarse gras and
lots incresse
procurement of produce from the farmers
and the state govt to ensure distribution encoureslate adapted miilets to
ensure nutritionat security and
hougn POS, ICDS, and MDM. it may provide
diversification,
nd other govt institutions in urban
and semi-urban areas.
Rationalizing the quantity as per the cost of Rationalizing the quantity of millet to cach
wheat and Rice
nticiary of millet keeping due to the
Poiicy
Intervention price of rice and wheat can help increase
millet acceptability.
Farmers/organizations can be given Water
Apolicy of Water Credit
ng water.
Credits and incentives for saving
Large-scale market surveys for consumption Ths will hetpthe
rationalizing theprocurement
government and
in inclusion
patterns all over the states
of various millets in the PDS supply chain.
MSP for small rnillets. It will further diversify millet production
and promote indigenous varieties.
Value addition through processing and Through the processing of the mitlet:
various products can be prepared, and they
packagins
can be further distributed in small packa_es
for better and easy reach at the last mile.
Value Addition, Fortification of rice is atready being done and This would help in building a more resilient
Processing, and
distributed. Fortification of various millet and nutrition-secure future for the people
Recipe can also be explored. of India.
Development
Snacks made of millet shoutd be encouraged Millets
in government offices, canteens, and other
are drought resistant, require less
water, and can be grown in a variety of
institutIons. soils and climates, making them a versatile
crop.
Decrease the reliance on rice and wheat The need to include other crops in
cultivation cycles with more nutritional
Miscellaneous values and less climatic effect.
Inclusion of Pulses, vegetables, and fruits in it will help in diversifying Indian diets.
POS
 Theme 2: How can the PDS become more custormer-centric?

Category Suygestionn Reasonins

Develop a whistie blower policy People face varios types of probiems in POS tt they
under the complaint registration don't complain fearing that their narne will eCome in
system piblíc and they wil be harassed.
Setting up of hetpline call center This would enable keepine a tah
Dan cited parameters
and would provide inputs for corrective
Grievance for reporeheneficiaries measures
Redressal Systems elated to non-availability.
quality, misuse, etc.
A standard manual imay be Transparency in kM
farmulated gives themeiharcesS
a ense ofoesh nthe
grievances toutine nature functioning of government.
The chotce to cho0se a Intimation of choice in
advance throughh an oniine
conmodity i.e., rice, wheat, or portal helps the State Govt. to fix overall
coarse grains by beneficiaries procurement targes of food grains, 1.e., wheat, rice,
and coarse grains.
Instaltation of Grain ATM This may help to ensure the quality of grains and 247
delivery to the beneficiaries
Set up centrat-level call centres To monitor the variations/any differences, leakages,
to randoly cail beneficiaries to malpractice, etc.
Beneficiary know/compare the real status of
experience quaNtity quality, price, check
beneficiay details. etc.
centricity
inter scate and intra-state Poor people/ migrant labour can move easily all over
portabiity of focd grains are the country in connection with their work as they
inportant for all the
remain confident that they will get NFSA food grairs
benefic1aries. at highly subsidized prices without much increase in
their cost of living in a new city.
Provision of better quality The introduction of quality products by NAFED,
products at the FPSs HAFED, etc. which are also more economical than
other brands available ín the market, will help in
making PDS more customer-centric
Procurement ooerations should be PDS has two customer facets: (i NFSA beneficiaries
made hassle-free to ensure the (1) Farmers, who are also an intonest t and
full anount of MSP (without may not be ignored under this novel and novit
deductions) is paid directly to the exercise, and the full amount of MSP be paid directly
marginal farmers by state to the bank accounts of farmers without the
procurement agencies intervention of middle-men like PACS, etc.
Implementation of door-step Doorstep delivery will help reduce time constraints
delivery by enabling the for benpficiari
beneficiaries to choose the time ficiaries and will also allow proper scheduling
of delivery time
Supply chain & by FPS/ Distribution centres,
slot of delivery as per their
procurement convenience
reforms
May help in reducing the gathering/ huge crowd at
Weekly/fortnightly mobile FPS
Van may be mobilized forthe FPS. Beneficiaries who are unable to collect food
a o n of food grains to grains on the allotted days shall get benefited. In
ferper the allocated case sorme of the PDS beneficiaries are disabled or
Cuota ra particular period elderly, then the ration will reach their doorstep at
their convenience
Fortification of ration, especially To tackle malnutrition and other deficiencies. They
for distribution in rural and are a one-stop solution in the wake af climate
remote areas. Inclusion of coarse change, water scarcity, and rought conditions along
 erais a t plses POS tora
wth gh trithee vae t provde stanabie toot
npetely talanced eat and ntrtion security
ithout the eeed for purchasing
additional food gratns
Other food ites tray te incuded this ty educe the burden
in the basket as per local tastes of procang commoities
ke wteat R paddy and encorage procurement of
and preferences other cereals/millets
SMS alerts to beneficiaries about This tay help the teneficiaries to schetde theie
the arrival of ration at FPSs
distributian date time, etc.
work accor dingly so that they do not miss ut on thei
entitleents
Butk messaging to make For transparency, preventing leskages of the food
beneficiaries aware of their Iegal grains ensurieg eititied quantity of ratn t the
entitlements for the upeoming eligible beneficiaries
month along with the quantity f
type of food grains
reness
arer &
commurication SMS is also a necessity for OORC ONORC beneficiaries are migretsnd no tnlt
beneficiaries sgerneraly availatie on FPs egde he ac f
ration for them They visit FPSs nane
again with only information that h e n
partal ts rot jet cpen therfore tatn no
being distributed in the destination state
Promotion of One Nation One Enabling beneficiaries to get the ration anywere
Ration Card Scheme
ne county. This wil benefit the migrant latorers
specitically.
Unique number/ OTP for availing Unique nurmber/ OTP receved by the customer that
food grairis eration given
to custom reduce leakages.
Replace the present booklet-type It will lead us toward a paperless uniform tegime
ration card/
Smart plastic
tic card

Digitization of the distribution SMS facility for the availability of stocks, prnce list
services5 per unit, estimated time at FPS, etc. Separate
timings for distribution to ladies/senior citizens.

User-friendly mobile app to Consumers/beneficiaries can check any

monitor his/her details of ration leakage/misuse by FPS of allocated/distributed
Card, manthly rations to them
cated/distributed ration to
Technology-led them
reforms
Onbaarding of System Integrators System integrators should share a compulsory
to manage the funictioning of e certificate monthty to the state governments that e
PoS machines are working well and receipts are being
PaS devices
printed
Development of a A database of information showing the state- wise,
agement Information System district-wise allocation, and their distribution may be
MIS Ceveloped.
In addition to Aadhar Number one active mobile
number per family Could be obtained so that a
database having two key enablers (Aadhar tumber
and Mobile Nurrnber) could be developed.
The application development for such a system should
be made continuousty. DFPD may develop a pool af

Pvatratot of eos rchasine
storng asd dxtrititi to
beetcaries: (Pi t e
Destribution of food gains/ tems
n standardizet packaging
Etsuring quality contro of foot
grains dstributed under PS
Miscelianeous
Traning af Supply Offices
moroved financial vabiity of FPS FPS CWners who distribute the stock within a
dealers
Distrsbutiot of non-controlled
comnodties/articles at FPS
oftkers who are wtedgeatie of
wOureet/datriutn peratks and h yt
devetoIents
tINTease eftkiecy and ensure cost eftecti
the POS systen, maintain quaiity, and peoper
distritution to bene ais ogen the
sace fo comgantes ith otther interests in the fd
narket
This may lower the instances of detivery of les
quantity of ration vis a vis entitlement and also
enhaxe the perceptian of quality. The shef ite of
stocks after deivery would aiso be better. Packing
tine at the FPS wil reduce and make the process of
distritition fast.
The ration shop should provide a sealed/certited
sangie of food grain that can be tested at any State
recognized laboratory. The PoS beneficiaryif not
satistied with the specificatns and quality imay raise
complaints based on latb reports
Regarding how to ensure the quatity of foos grains.
Strengthening measures to avoid corruptio by
millers
specified period (say 10 days) may be incentivtzed. it
will help in involving the PDS shop owners in quick
dispesal. It will aiso help in the enhancement of
dialogues between shop owners and beneficiaries
The role of FPS may not be restricted to the
distribution of rationed articles alone, both in the
context of business viability as well as safeguardns
the poor against rising prices of rice/wheat of
essential commodities. Hence FPS
should also concentrate on non-controllable articies.
At the same time, they should be competitive enough
in attracting consumers.
 Theme 3: How to createa flexible, agile, transparent, and robust supply
chainin POS?

Cayory Sugestion Ressonin

Etfarts shouid be made to hetg the States to estend the
decree te
Enhance procurement in deticit hent of MsP ta the farmers Ths will
tates
bur den of the movemnent of food grains fron srus
States to deficit States and thus ncreae the speed of the
supply chain.
Pracurement DCP procurenent is not oniy cost etfective for al b
Expansion of decentralized
procurement (DCP) to a greater
number of states effectively. Expansion of DCP procureneot to more and
more states can etfectiveiy boost the econany in the
Supply chain.
Route optimization is a good nitate ta ncrese cost
effectiveness by setting up waretases at strategk
Set up watenoust sulocations. Aiso, arrangins storae faciies strategically in
both surplus
Witribtion will be easier e cost- tncks and deficit statis and imaintanny tuffer
in contral locations CY heip ene h ec
effective distribution of food grains and minimie l s de t
spolage.
India has a shortage ofsra es aing t pest
To address this, vertical silos should be coitrcted with
Upgradation
and creating of storage facilities smaler silos at the mandi levet and targer sos with blk
flexible
design and operations
warehouse hadling and rail connectivity
Re designing the warehouse to tmake it iote llexabte is
necessary to ensure an efficient workfiow and keep the
warehouse ready for new and tetter products
Storage
Biock Level Storage and The Ministry of Cooper ation plans to develop 1200 LMT
the
of
across the country wich will reduce
evelopment of storage space for Storage space
wastage cf fruits and green vegetables, benetiting
vesetables and fruits farmers and consumers
The government needs to have dtou
wolumes ot
nrastrutu intrastructure should be equipped
Robust storage infrastructure with mpdern facilities like temperature and humidity
Control, pest control, and ventilation systems to ensure
the quality of food grains.
The PPP system could be extended to include
Public Private Partnership in procurement, movement, and storage, while the
storage government is responsible for planning, monitoring.
quality checks, and compliance managenent.
GPS is an ICT-logistics system that enables trucks tc
start /end trips on every transport and need to travel
through identified routes only. It also provides real time
GPS-enabled trucks with real alert systerns, such as the Real-Time Google map, whicth
time monitoring and alert system can be used to identify any routine halt near
an

can create
Movement unwanted hatt on e ck drivers and /or in
a sese charge
dmalpractice.
and help to
Tirnety transportation of FCI/other govt. agencies urchase food grains in Mandis on
nrocured food grains from Mandis nnsported to stores
to to
leading gessunseasonal rain, or theft.
to Godowns/ Silos/ Warehouses
 SiBcNie
the Seg cas l d be
valed by itityng and
ne the w itary AS
Creation of odon techoloy
enatied cargo aseegalo
Werestlt centers
iNevewog a attowin tor
efficeet ource shring
Coltaborative sugoty cham
Deand dven forecasting ar
Canviet efacity
regading p elnces
Techooogy adagtation in the
Wppiv chan lke 5
Autovaion of foot grats quaity
checking syster
tvest in and upgrade the
Technology
Unified and integrated grains
procurement, moverment,
storage, and distribution svstem, Tor realtime
End to-end tracking and
Technalogy automation of the supply chain
Integrate all Data into Supply
Chain Control Tower
Reduce hurman interface in the
supply chain
Efective resource Sharing:
Developing a platform for
Effectihefoptimai use of
vlable resources (intra and
nter-oply chains) from the
first mie to thelast mile.
eN itman ay
wotin ctaerizatnofr in edet
Sec to
very avalale eoce sola be Cesile to he
user custoner n tthe supply ehanby ng esoes
optinally
AcollabNHative sply chan that vatves svaous
Maketolders, in tuting farers, trades, and loges
uran
ervice rovderS, Can ep steanline the tood
wply chain. ty wokng togetlier, theyCan identify and
dress totlenec ks and nefficiecies in the ly chain
The eovernent can se data ahalytics and toreCat
tools to predict demand and plan its prOCuFeent ad
distvibutio0 activitie accordingly Ths can hep mininze
wastage and esre that food gras reach the loteded
berneticiartes n a tinely and etftient mae
Complaints should be reflected on the compints
regstered nobile umber, followed up witha rotlow uo
MS or respotse, and a timeline should be set
To compty with the present situation,
substandard quality food grains are provided in the FS.
wien con am en be uNed to orovide god
chechn s
quality food grains Consumners.
Real-time tracking systems, demand forecasting softwe,
and automated inventory nanagement systems are
essential for a robust supply chain.
Single platform with need based access to stakeholders
status and Al/ML data modeting.
To prevent leakages and pilferages and will provide
trackabitity.
New technologies enable secure data commurication
services to share information, distribute reports, and
receive alerts on milestones, providing multi-mode supply
chain visibility.
Developing a systern similar to the bank's CORE, which
includes a network of individuals, organizatians,
resources, activities, and technology involve the
transportation, and
distribution t e n t , Storage,
aproduct.
Nothing should go to waste and be used optimally in the
whole supply chain starting from picking up or coliecting
the stock/cargo aggregating, transporting, and then
segregating and delivering to last-mile customers. Every
available resource within or enter-supply chains (wtich
not plying/running at its fullest but can be suitably used)
should be within reach of the user/customer.
 2043
Thene 4 VIon a
py
ihe ote of rcce

a t e rves

adi a vilage ievel

Waetck cn Nae at ile vage lve
itat FaE a l e pkce wthit he

oiaiVe ehanges

e nofl APs wiihe AN

waal

Ans d

esteal,adiulite
Ctan Sh-Bknd Note

technology far better The ambiguity acrO5s Stales gves mastve scope
ientiticatien of benefieiaries such as for corruption and fallouts in PDS systems
because some who are mneant to benefit are nos
linking the PDS database to other
Benefictary databases such as birth and death abie to
tdentification
registry. motar vehicies, PAN card,
etc.

Distribution of nutrient-dense food it will address mainutrition and protein

grains such as millet, soyabean. deficiency among PDS beneficiaries. Aimost
chickpeas, rajma along with Rice and 80% of our indian population doesn't meet
their daily protein requirements
Wheat

Bio fortified foods shoutd be included This will also help in crop diversification and
in the PDS. clímate adaptation.
Shift to nutrition Promoting PUs to sell
e dairyDd.-based
etc.
security products also itke milk, curd.
. The FPSs should aiso have data on the
utritious requirement of tts
beneiciaries.

.NFSA Should have nutrition

reguirements for TPDS in a similar Line
of MDM and ICDS (Schedule I)

Transparent and automated This will avoid long queues at FPS hops &will
distributian models can be pioted in prevent unnecessary harassmentof citizens
PDS. Far eg: distribution through Srmart cards store data sucth as name, address
vending machine by token, like a milk
vending machine, ATM. biometrics, categarties, monthly entiiement t
farnily members. SMS-based monitoring a
Displayting quality of food grain information sharing should be done FPS
Refarming distributed. Owners should inform the beneticiary about
on af
the time a date so that beneficiaries can
food grains Instead of ration cards, smart cards
should be provided and delivered to
collect their ration without wasting their
valuable time.
all the beneficiaries at their doorstep.
Door to Door delivery of food grains
inn Ann hased dual Asdhar
authentication.