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Accessibility of food implies that every individual has access to it, and affordability ensures that a person has sufficient financial means to purchase safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary requirements. Thus, a country can only be considered food-secure when there is an adequate supply of food for all individuals, everyone has the financial capacity to buy food of acceptable quality, and there are no barriers to accessing food.

Public Distribution System

Public Distribution System

Public Distribution System

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is responsible for distributing food obtained from farmers through government-regulated ration shops known as Fair Price Shops or the Public Distribution System (PDS). Rationing was first introduced in India in the 1940s following the Bengal famine. It was then reintroduced in the 1960s due to a severe food shortage before the Green Revolution. In response to the high poverty rates reported by the NSSO in the mid-1970s, three significant food intervention programs were implemented.

In the mid-1970s, three crucial food intervention programs were implemented in India, including the Public Distribution System (PDS) for food grains, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and the Food-for-Work (FFW) program. Today, various Poverty Alleviation Programmes (PAPs) with an explicit food component is active in rural areas, and employment programs are a significant contributor to food security by boosting the income of the impoverished.

Introduction of Rationing

Rationing was first introduced in India during the 1940s, amidst the devastating Bengal famine. It was later reinstated in the 1960s due to a severe food shortage that preceded the Green Revolution. In response to the high levels of poverty reported by the NSSO in the mid-1970s, the government introduced three major food intervention programs: the Public Distribution System (PDS) for food grains (which had existed earlier but was strengthened), the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) (introduced experimentally in 1975), and Food-for-Work (FFW) (introduced in 1977-78).

More programs were created throughout time, and some were reformed based on the knowledge gained from managing them. In rural areas, there are numerous Poverty Alleviation Programs (PAPs) that contain a food component. While certain programs, such as the PDS and mid-day meals, are only concerned with food security, the majority of PAPs also help to improve food security. Employment initiatives contribute significantly to food security by improving the income of the poor.

Current Status of Public the Distribution System

The Government of India implemented the Public Distribution System (PDS) to ensure food security in the country. In 1992, the system was revamped, and later, in 1997, the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was introduced to specifically aid the poor in all areas. Additionally, the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Annapurna Scheme (APS) were launched in 2000. India’s public distribution system is now going through both successes and setbacks. On the one hand, the system has been effective in providing food grains that have been given subsidies to a sizable section of the population, thereby reducing hunger and malnutrition. Yet, the system has issues like fraud, inadequacies in coverage, and leakage.

The implementation of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), which delivers subsidized food grains to two-thirds of the population, has been one of the most significant triumphs of India’s public distribution system. Beneficiaries are entitled to five kilograms of food grains per person per month under the NFSA, at a heavily subsidized rate of Rs. 2-3 per kg for wheat and rice, respectively. Furthermore, the government has implemented various reforms such as the digitization of ration cards, direct benefit transfers, and the use of technology to increase system efficiency.

So far, the public distribution system continues to face a number of issues. One of the most difficult difficulties is the problem of leakages and corruption. Despite many initiatives taken to reduce leakages and maintain system transparency, reports of ration card theft and food grain diversion continue to appear. Another issue is the system’s insufficient coverage, with many eligible users unable to receive their entitlement food grains owing to a lack of awareness, infrastructure, or logistical obstacles.

Stabilization of Prices

The PDS has proven to be the most effective government policy instrument in stabilizing prices and providing food to consumers at affordable prices. However, the system has faced criticism on various fronts. The high buffer stocks of food grains are undesirable and wasteful. Some states like Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh primarily grow two crops, wheat and rice, leading to environmental degradation and a fall in water levels, which threaten agricultural development’s sustainability.

Malpractices by PDS dealers

PDS dealers have also engaged in malpractice such as diverting grains to the open market for better margins, selling poor quality grains at ration shops, and irregular shop openings. Recently, the PDS has also seen a decline due to three different types of cards and varying price ranges. Under TPDS, families above the poverty line receive a little discount at the ration shop as they are offered three different prices. The APL families are charged almost as high as the open market prices, reducing their incentive to buy from ration shops.

Role of Government

Cooperatives are playing a vital role in ensuring food security in India, especially in the southern and western regions of the country. These societies have established shops to provide affordable goods to impoverished individuals. For example, in Tamil Nadu, cooperatives operate around 94% of all fair-price shops. In Delhi, Mother Dairy is making significant progress in supplying milk and vegetables to consumers at government-set rates. Amul, another successful cooperative from Gujarat, has transformed the dairy industry in India through its White Revolution. These are just a few examples of the many cooperatives throughout India that are working to ensure food security for various sectors of society.

Similarly, in Maharashtra, the Academy of Development Science (ADS) has created a network of NGOs to establish grain banks in various regions. The ADS provides training and capacity-building programs for NGOs to improve food security. As a result, grain banks are gradually being established across Maharashtra. The ADS’s efforts to establish grain banks, facilitate replication through other NGOs, and influence government policy on food security have paid off handsomely. The ADS Grain Bank program is widely recognized as a successful and innovative food security intervention.

FAQs on Public Distribution System

Question 1: What is food security?

Answer:

Food security refers to a situation where every individual has access to safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary requirements, without any financial or physical barriers.

Question 2: What is the Public Distribution System?

Answer:

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is a government-regulated ration shop that distributes food obtained from farmers through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to ensure food security in the country.

Question 3: How has the PDS benefited consumers?

Answer:

The PDS has stabilized food prices and provided food to consumers at affordable prices, making it an effective government policy instrument.



Last Updated : 02 Aug, 2023
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