Public Distribution System
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The Public Distribution System (PDS) evolved as a system of management of
scarcity through distribution of foodgrains at affordable prices. Over the years,
PDS has become an important part of Government’s policy for management of
food economy in the country. PDS is supplemental in nature and is not intended
to make available the entire requirement of any of the commodities distributed
under it to a household or a section of the society.
PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State
Governments. The Central Government, through Food Corporation of India (FCI),
has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk
allocation of food grains to the State Governments. The operational responsibility
including allocation within State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration
Cards and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with
the State Government. Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat
and rice are being allocated to the State.
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In June, 1997, the Government of India launched the Targeted Public Distribution
System (TPDS) with focus on the poor. Under the PDS, States were required to
formulate and implement foolproof arrangements for identification of the poor
for delivery of foodgrains and for its distribution in a transparent and accountable
manner at the FPS level.
The main objectives of the public distribution system are as follows:
. Ensuring availability of essential consumer goods
. Keeping prices of essential consumer goods stable
. Targeted Public Distribution System provide food security to the weaker sections
of the society to meet certain basic needs. Under the Targeted Public Distribution
System, wheat and rice are distributed through fair price shops in the state.
The above mentioned items are given to the consumers on the basis of ration
card at a fixed price in fixed quantities.
To ensure access of food grains to the consumers of Targeted Public Distribution
System, POS machines have been made available to all fair price shops in the in
the state. Distribution of grains to all eligible beneficiaries has been ensured by
POS machines.
