India introduces digital rupee in food security network with launch of CBDC-linked PDS as Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday, 15 February, launched a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Public Distribution System (PDS) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, and other dignitaries were present at the launch.
Addressing the gathering, Shah said that Digital India is now extending to the food and supply system, adding that the initiative reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ at the ground level.
He stated that the new system will completely eliminate corruption from the mechanism of providing rations to the poor.
The Union Home Minister noted that earlier there were 60 crore people in India whose families did not have even a single bank account, while today half of the world’s digital transactions take place in the country.
He added that the expansion of connectivity will enable arrangements to ensure that the poor receive food grains directly through digital means, similar to how Direct Benefit Transfer helped eliminate fraud and scams.
He remarked that just as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) eliminated fraud and scams in the country, this initiative by the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution will ensure a transparent distribution system in the coming days.
Shah said that this distribution system, a unique blend of technology and Prime Minister Modi’s sensitivity towards the poor, will become a means of safeguarding the rights of the poor in a secure and transparent manner.
He mentioned that the ‘Annapurna’ machine was also inaugurated today, which distributes 25 kg of food grains in just 35 seconds.
Shah said that this system will be implemented across the entire country in the next 3-4 years.
He stated that this food grain distribution system will be completely transparent, and after its implementation, every poor person in the country will be able to receive 5 kg of free food grains.
He further said that the ‘Annapurna’ machine will help ensure better quality, accurate quantity, and transparent distribution.
Shah said that gradually, this system should be implemented across India – from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Dwarka to Kamakhya.
Highlighting the scale of existing welfare measures, he said that 5 kg of free food grains per person per month are currently being provided to 80 crore people.
The minister said that connectivity has reached 1 lakh 7 thousand villages, strengthening the foundation for digital delivery systems.
Shah also said that the benefits of the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme have been extended to 1 crore 9 lakh street vendors, while solid policies over the past decade have improved the living standards of more than 60 crore people and lifted 27 crore people above the poverty line.
Referring to agriculture support, he stated that the agriculture budget has been increased from 26 thousand crore rupees under the previous government to 1 lakh 29 thousand crore rupees.
He added that 6,000 rupees have been directly transferred every year into farmers’ bank accounts for the past 10 years.
