World Food Programme and Rajasthan Government Partner to Improve Food Safety Net Serving Millions

New Delhi/Jaipur: The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in India and the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Rajasthan, are partnering to improve the Targeted Public Distribution System (TDPS) in the state that reaches millions.

The partnership will entail, among other activities, the use of digitisation, data aggregation, performance dashboards for monitoring of TDPS thus providing real-time as well as a long-term solution to improve the food and nutritional security for millions covered under the world’s largest food safety net scheme.

“This is a strategic partnership for creating impact at scale by taking advantage of the end-to-end computerisation of the food safety net that works through the Targeted Public Distribution System. Together with the government, we will use the data and insights to facilitate operational and policy decision making,” said WFP India Representative and Country Director for India, Mr. Bishow Parajuli.

“The Government of Rajasthan is committed to addressing malnutrition and creating food security in the state. Our efforts towards achievement of India’s targets under Sustainable Development Goal 2 will be strengthened with WFP providing technical assistance and transfer and exchange of knowledge, skills, and expertise to strengthen the existing systems,” said Mr. Naveen Jain, Secretary, Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Rajasthan.

This specific partnership between WFP and the Department of Food and Civil Supplies is part of a wider strategic Memorandum of Understanding signed late last year. The desert state of Rajasthan covers nearly 45 million beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, served through a network of 26,657 Fair Price Shops.

Some of the highlights of this partnership include: Improve targeting of beneficiaries to ensure that those in need are not excluded and those who are at-risk are included; Support in making the supply chain efficient – like transport optimisation and introduction of digital applications; Enhancement of capacity to enable data-based decision making to make continuous assessments and improvements.

About World Food Programme

The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.  It is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

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For more information please contact: Parvinder.singh@wfp.org
Parvinder Singh; WFP/New Delhi; Tel: +91 9999241701