The Union Cabinet approved a ₹25,530 crore five-year scheme called 'Sarthak-PDS' merging two existing programmes to streamline last-mile food grain delivery under the Public Distribution System. The scheme aims to modernize transportation, storage infrastructure, and reduce food grain leakage from warehouses to beneficiaries. It consolidates the earlier fragmented approach into a unified framework targeting improved logistics efficiency. The initiative covers the entire supply chain from Food Corporation of India godowns to fair price shops, addressing critical gaps in the current distribution mechanism.

Sarthak-PDS represents a paradigm shift in India's food security architecture by addressing the 'last mile' challenge - the critical gap between government procurement and actual delivery to beneficiaries. Currently, significant food grain losses occur during transportation from FCI warehouses to state depots and finally to fair price shops, undermining food security goals. The scheme integrates technology, improves cold storage facilities, and standardizes transportation protocols across states. This matters because India's PDS serves 80 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, making efficient delivery crucial for poverty alleviation. The consolidation reduces administrative fragmentation that previously led to coordination failures between central and state agencies. By investing in last-mile infrastructure, the government aims to reduce the 10-12% post-harvest losses currently plaguing the system. The scheme also aligns with the broader digitization agenda, potentially incorporating GPS tracking, real-time monitoring, and beneficiary feedback mechanisms. Success here directly impacts India's ranking on the Global Hunger Index and achievement of SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).