Abstract
The Public Distribution System (PDS) in India, originating from the Bengal famine of the 1940s, is a key tool in the fight against poverty and food insecurity. It aims to provide subsidised essentials to economically vulnerable groups. Revived in the 1960s and expanded through reforms like the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in 1997 and the National Food Security Act in 2013, the PDS ensures food security and poverty alleviation by offering affordable commodities. Implementation varies by state, incorporating Aadhaar linkage and Direct Benefit Transfer to reduce leakages and enhance transparency. This study examines Haryana’s PDS, with a primary focus on the performance of the PDS in Dhigana village of district Jind. Haryana state is recognised for agricultural productivity yet facing significant poverty, resulting in heavy reliance on the PDS. Haryana has digitised TPDS operations to improve efficiency and accessibility with Aadhaar-enabled systems and online grievance redressal. Challenges persist, including access issues and beneficiary concerns about efficiency. While crucial for food security
and price stability, the PDS faces logistics, quality control and access challenges, especially for green cardholders. Addressing these issues is essential to optimise the PDS’s impact and foster socio-economic development in Haryana and nationwide. A few recommendations have been made to cope with the highlighted issues, which include infrastructure enhancement, community engagement, quality control, capacity building, and integration with other welfare schemes, regular shop opening and establishment of more Food Price Shops.
Keywords: Public Distribution System, Fair Price Shop, Direct Benefit Transfer, Transparency, Poverty, Food Security, Haryana
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