Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, today launched a transparent, modern, and simple Public Distribution System (PDS) based on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. On this occasion, Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Shri Pralhad Joshi and many other dignitaries were present.

In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said that inspired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Digital India is now extending to the food and supply system. He said that Prime Minister Modi has given the first right over the country’s resources to the poor, Dalits, backward classes, and tribal communities. He stated that earlier, there were 60 crore people in India whose entire families did not have even a single bank account, but under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi Ji, half of the world's digital transactions now take place in India. He added that the same Digital India is now entering the domain of providing affordable food grains to the poor of the country. Shri Shah said that this system will completely eliminate corruption from the mechanism of providing rations to the poor.

Amit Shah said that with the expansion of connectivity across the country, arrangements will now be made to ensure that the poor receive food grains directly through digital means.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. Shri Shah said that Prime Minister Modi Ji's mantra of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ is today being implemented on the ground in a new sector.

Union Home Minister 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. Shri 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. Shri Shah said that gradually, this system should be implemented across our vast country—from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Dwarka to Kamakhya.

Shri Amit Shah said that today connectivity has reached 1 lakh 7 thousand villages in the country. He stated that Prime Minister Modi ji has provided 5 kg of free food grains per person per month to 80 crore people in the country. Shri Shah said that food security has now become transparent. He mentioned that Prime Minister Modi ji has extended the benefits of the Prime Minister Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme to 1 crore 9 lakh street vendors across the country. He added that through solid policies, the Modi government has improved the living standards of more than 60 crore people in the last 10 years and lifted 27 crore people above the poverty line.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the main opposition party and their government always lie and mislead the public. Shri Shah said that under the previous government, the agriculture budget was only 26 thousand crore rupees, which Prime Minister Modi Ji has increased to 1 lakh 29 thousand crore rupees. He added that the previous government, in 70 years, misled farmers by announcing loan waivers only once, whereas Prime Minister Modi ji has been directly transferring 6,000 rupees every year into every farmer's bank account for the past 10 years, creating a system where farmers do not need to take loans at all.

Shri Amit Shah said that the opposition is misleading the country regarding the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) signed with the European Union and UK, and the trade deal with the USA. He said that the previous government had made farmers vulnerable by signing the Dunkel Proposal. He said that through the Free Trade Agreements with the European Union and UK, and the trade deal with the USA, Prime Minister Modi ji has fully safeguarded the interests of the country's farmers. He emphasized that Prime Minister Modi has also protected India's dairy sector through these agreements. Shri Shah said that these agreements have opened the way for India's agricultural and fishermen's products to reach markets worldwide. He asserted that Prime Minister Modi Ji will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen, and livestock rearers. He added that Prime Minister Modi ji stands like a rock today in protecting the country's farmers.

Union Home Minister said that today, corruption and lack of transparency in food distribution and food security have been eliminated. He said that this will ensure the right to food for every poor citizen is secured, leaving no room for middlemen.

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RK/PR/PS