Efficiency of public distribution system: Insights and challenges

PUBLIC Distribution System (PDS) is an Indian Food Security System evolved as a system of management of scarcity and for distribution of food grain at the affordable prices. It was established by the Government of India under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and is managed jointly by the central and the state government. The paper provides insights to the challenges faced by Public Distribution Systems (PDS) and various management related issues faced by the system. As we know that 30% of India's population fall below poverty line, that is, they are not able to arrange basic needs, such as, food, clothing, and shelter, etc. The research was undertaken to study the functioning of the PDS centres, and to also record the satisfaction level of the beneficiaries of the system.

The data was collected from the beneficiaries of three villages in Gautam Budh Nagar District through a structured survey. The Fair Price Shops (FPS) dealers were interviewed and the Area Marketing Officers appointed by the state government were also interviewed to collect deeper insights of the challenges faced by various stakeholders of PDS system. The researchers also collected the data to record the details of leakage of food grains while the food grains are distributed under PDS. The authenticity of the ration cards was also checked to discover the cases where ration cards were being used by the FPS dealer themselves.

It was found that the goods distributed by the Fair Price Shops were neither sufficient in quantity nor good in quality. The lack of government initiation was observed at every stage of the process. The research revealed that no feedbacks are collected by the government from beneficiaries to find out the areas of improvement and also to measure the satisfaction of beneficiaries from the service provided by PDS. The problems of inappropriate infrastructure, and lack of support from the government to the government officers appointed for various duties under the system, were encountered at a large scale. The government employees appointed for the discharge of different duties under the system were found to be highly disappointed with the Human Resource policy of the government.

The study was conducted in three villages of district Gautam Buddh Nagar of the state of Uttar Pradesh, which is the major limitation of the study. Appropriately, bigger sample size spread over different parts of the country could have provided even deeper understanding of the challenges of PDS in India. Unavailability of historical data to validate the results posed another limitation to this study.

After studying the PDS in detail in the country, researchers not only bring major areas of improvement in the system in light but also suggests some solutions for effective management of the Public Distribution System (PDS). The suggestions regarding the implementation were sent to the Food Secretary (U.P.), Shri Pradeep Shukla. One of the most important practicality of this research paper is ‘Biometric Cards ’which have been made for all the consumers of three villages in which the study was conducted.