Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched the Depot Darpan e-portal, a digital platform for self-assessment and monitoring of food grain storage depots. The platform aims to enhance infrastructure and operational efficiency through a 5-Star rating system based on operational and infrastructural efficiency. Pilot projects integrating CCTV and IoT sensors are underway to improve real-time monitoring and security.
Key Points / Main Content:
Depot Darpan e-Portal:
* A digital self-assessment and monitoring platform for food grain storage depots.
* Aims to enhance infrastructure and operational efficiency.
Warehouse Assessment:
* Warehouses assessed on two main categories:
* Operational Efficiency (60% weightage): Occupancy, cost metrics (transit/storage loss, handling cost, demurrage), and manpower expenses.
* Infrastructural Efficiency (40% weightage): Safety, operational, environmental, and statutory aspects.
* Warehouses receive a 5-Star rating based on composite scoring from both categories.
* Aims to identify gaps in warehouse management, practices, safety standards, infrastructure, storage conditions, and financial performance.
* A mobile application provides access for senior officials of FCI/CWC/Department of Food & Public Distribution to monitor warehouse ratings.
Savings and Income Augmentation:
* Identifying process inefficiencies and implementing targeted interventions aims to yield savings in FCI-owned warehouses and generate additional income in CWC-operated warehouses.
Infrastructural Gaps:
* Infrastructural gaps identified during assessment are addressed through Capital Expenditure and Annual Repair Maintenance works of FCI/CWC.
* The goal is to enhance depot ratings.
Smart Warehousing Technologies:
* Pilot project on Smart Warehousing Technologies includes CCTV surveillance and IoT sensors.
* Monitors parameters such as C02, phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry, and temperature in real-time.
* Aims to ensure security and efficiency in food grain storage.
Technology Impact:
* CCTV and IoT technologies improve depot operations by:
* Ensuring real-time visibility
* Enabling timely intervention
* Supporting data-driven decision-making
* Standardizing operations across all depots
* Contributes to safe, secure, and efficient food grain storage and distribution.
Impact Analysis:
Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC):
Impact: FCI aims to achieve savings in owned warehouses, while CWC aims to generate additional income in operated warehouses, both through improved operational efficiencies identified by the Depot Darpan portal. Infrastructural improvements will be targeted to raise depot ratings.
Action Required: Address infrastructural gaps identified during assessments through Capital Expenditure and Annual Repair Maintenance works. Implement the pilot project on Smart Warehousing Technologies.
Senior Officials of FCI/CWC/Department of Food & Public Distribution:
Impact: Increased visibility into warehouse performance through the mobile application.
Action Required: Utilize the mobile application to monitor warehouse ratings and implement targeted interventions to address inefficiencies.
Food Grain Storage Depots:
Impact: Subject to assessment based on operational and infrastructural efficiency, potentially leading to improved ratings and resource allocation.
Action Required: Undergo self-assessment and monitoring via the Depot Darpan e-portal to identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes.
Key Entities Referenced
Depot Darpan eportal: A digital self-assessment and monitoring platform to enhance the infrastructure and operational efficiency of food grain storage depots.
Food Corporation of India (FCI): An organization responsible for the procurement, storage, and distribution of food grains in India.
Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC): An organization involved in providing warehousing services for agricultural produce and other commodities.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to consumer affairs, food, and public distribution.
Smart Warehousing Technologies: Pilot project employing technologies like CCTV surveillance and IoT sensors for monitoring parameters such as C02, Phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature.
Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV): Technology used for surveillance and monitoring in the context of foodgrain depot security.
Internet of Things (IoT): Technology used with sensors to monitor key parameters such as C02, Phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1679
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
DEPOT DARPAN E-PORTAL
1679. SMT. POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM:
DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:
Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has launched the Depot Darpan e-portal;
(b) if so, the objectives and functionalities of the above said portal;
(c) the details of estimated savings and income augmentation anticipated through
implementation of said portal in Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Central Warehousing
Corporation (CWC) depots;
(d) whether steps have been taken by the Government to address the infrastructural gaps
identified during the evaluation of FCI and CWC depots and if so, details thereof;
(e) whether the Government has integrated technologies such as Closed-Circuit Television
(CCTV) surveillance and Internet of Things (IoTs) sensors to create a seamless digital
monitoring ecosystem and if so, the details of the parameters monitored under this system;
(f) the manner in which said technologies contribute to real-time monitoring and improved
operational efficiency in foodgrain depots; and
(g) whether the said digital monitoring system has led to measurable improvements in
storage efficiency and safety and if so, the details thereon
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)-2-
(a) to (c) Yes ; Depot Darpan is a digital self-assessment and monitoring platform to enhance
the infrastructure and operational efficiency of food grain storage depots
• The warehouses are assessed based on two main categories
a) Operational Efficiency (60% weightage): Occupancy, Cost metrics like
transit/storage loss, handling cost, Demurrage, and manpower expenses.
b) Infrastructural Efficiency (40% weightage): including safety, operational,
environmental, and statutory aspects
Each category is evaluated independently, and the warehouse receives a 5-Star rating based
•
on the composite scoring from both.
This is aimed to institutionalize a mechanism for self-evaluation on the status of warehouse
•
management, practices, safety standards, infrastructure, storage conditions, and financial
performance aiding in improving the existing gaps.
• Mobile application provides access to senior officials of Food Corporation of India/Central
Warehousing Corporation/Department of Food & Public Distribution for monitoring of
rating of the warehouses.
This exercise of identifying process inefficiencies and implementing targeted interventions
has the potential to yield savings in FCI-owned warehouses and generate additional income in
CWC-operated food grain warehouses.
(d) The infrastructural gaps identified during the assessment are taken up in the Capital
Expenditure and Annual Repair & Maintenance works ofFCI & CWC with a target to enhance
the depots’ rating.
(e) Department has undertaken a pilot project on Smart Warehousing Technologies in
Godowns, which includes CCTV Surveillance and IoT sensors for monitoring key parameters
such as C02 & Phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature
on real time basis for ensuring security and efficiency in foodgrain storage.-3-
(f) to (g): CCTV and IoT technologies transform depot operations by ensuring:-
a) Real-time visibility
b) Timely intervention
c) Data-driven decision-making
d) Standardized operations across all depots
These advancements directly contribute to ensure safe, secure, and efficient food grain
storage and distribution
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