Lead Story
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of the “Scheme for Assistance in Ration Transport and Handling-Income with Automation in PDS” (SARTHAK PDS) as an umbrella scheme during the award period of the 16th Finance Commission cycle, with an outlay of Rs. 25,530 crore as the Central share.
The CCEA has also decided to revise the norms of Central assistance for meeting expenditure incurred by States and Union Territories on intra-state movement and handling of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin, while continuing the existing funding pattern of Central assistance.