Context:
Shri Pralhad Joshi has launched ‘Anna Chakra’, a tool for optimizing the Public Distribution System supply chain and a portal for Subsidy Claim Application for NFSA.
Launch of ‘Anna Chakra’ and SCAN Portal
The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and New & Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, recently unveils two major public initiatives for reforming the PDS-and-subsidy claim systems:
- ‘Anna Chakra’: PDS Supply Chain Optimization Tool
- SCAN (Subsidy Claim Application for NFSA) Portal.
The highlights of these initiatives are:
‘Anna Chakra’ – PDS Supply Chain Optimization:
- The Department of Food and Public Distribution is at the helm of affairs.
- This will focus on improving the logistics network of the country in the PDS.
- Developed in collaboration with:
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT-Delhi
- Advanced algorithms are used to:
- Identify optimal routes for food grain distribution.
- Ensure seamless movement across supply chain nodes.
- Invest in a complicated supply chain from farmers to Fair Price Shops (FPS).
- The goal is to improve the speed and efficiency of India’s food security program, which serves 81 Crore beneficiaries.
Benefits of ‘Anna Chakra’:
- Enhanced efficiency and saving in costs:
- Shortened delivery routes will consume less fuel, time, and logistics.
- Environmental benefits:
- Lower transportation-related emissions means a reduced carbon footprint.
Route Optimization Results:
- The tool has been tested for 30 states.
- Estimated cost savings of about 250 Crores per annum.
- QKM: The objective function for Quantity in quintals x distance in KMs has decreased by 58 Crores.
- The optimization will cover 4.37 Lakhs Fair Price Shops and approximately 6,700 warehouses.
Major Integrations in ‘Anna Chakra’:
- Interstate route optimization tool: Optimizes PDS movement between states.
- Integrated with:
- FOIS (Freight Operations Information System).
