scholarly journals Effect of COVID-19 on public distribution system in India

Author(s):  
Pallavi Pathak ◽  
Tapan Gope ◽  
Nadine Bader

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the whole world to face an economic crisis and hence putting people even more at risk of food insecurity; supply chain setup has been disrupted severely due to numerous transport restrictions. There is a need for various components of government machinery to work in complete synergy for aligning services, making provision for supplies and arranging means of delivery to the citizens. This review gives an understanding about the food security situation in India, problem faced by the citizens, in particular the poor and vulnerable population, small and marginal farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also analyses the steps taken by the government of India to address the food security challenges during COVID-19. We have discussed the importance of macrolevel thinking and various measures that can be taken to strengthen public distribution system in India. We have also discussed policies to support the small and marginal farmers, wage laborers, and migrant workers.

2021 ◽  
pp. 001955612110457
Author(s):  
O. Grace Ngullie ◽  
Arib Ahmad Ansari

The sheer extent of the Covid-19 pandemic and its crippling effect on the entire economy gave cold creeps. Suddenly the fragile, one-of-a-kind arrangement through which the daily wagers and the migrant workers were surviving broke down with the imposition of the lockdown, and we had a novel disaster on our hands. In such a hanging-by-thread situation, the adversely affected poor had to rely on the government machinery for sustenance. We attempt to undertake a first-hand evidence-based study of the implementation of the Public Distribution System in Delhi while examining the impact of the pandemic on livelihood and food security. Some policy gaps that we have identified include inconsistency with the quantity and quality of rations received and promised, exclusion and ultimately access to food. Based on the empirical examination of the specific problems faced by the poor on the ground, we recommend policy solutions corresponding to those specific problems which include utilising modern and emerging technologies, creating new cadre for monitoring and upwardly revising the allocation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Adusei

Abstract The COVID-19 and partial lockdown has brought significant effects on the entire economy, especially on food security and job losses. This study was carried out in Asokwa Municipal with the objective of examining the impact of COVID-19 disease and its related lockdown on food and nutrition security and job losses. The study site form part of the cities in Ghana to experience the partial lockdown, hence it qualifies for the selection. Both primary and secondary data were used. By means of purposive sampling technique, fifty respondents were selected as sample size. The study employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive and narrative posture to the presentation, discussion and analysis of data. Open-ended questionnaire and a checklist were used for data collection through semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that, food and nutrition insecurity, job loss and income reductions are still very common, affecting participants livelihood. Disproportionally affected are households whose income comes from farming, transporters, informal labour, as well as marketers.It was concluded that food insecurity is not outside the impact of COVID-19 and its associated partial lockdown. Food and nutrition security are the global concern at present circumstances. The supply chain has been hit hardest by COVID-19, which causes food insecurity of most vulnerable segment of population which put them at risk. And also, most of the migrant, informal, seasonal farm workers were losing their jobs which may affect their demand for food. Therefore, the government should step-up the measures to control the pandemic without disturbing the food supply chain. The development and use of online marketing strategies where people can make orders of various produce and booked for purchases and or deliveries during a stated time range should be promoted.


Author(s):  
Deepti Dewani ◽  
Shreyansh Jain ◽  
Sumeet Gupta

Rice is one of the major commodities produced and consumed in India. India is also home to one of the finest varieties of rice sold under the name of Basmati. The State of Chhattisgarh is considered the Rice Bowl of India as it is one of the largest contributors to paddy production in India. Around 3 million families subsist on farming in Chhattisgarh, out of which, 1.522 million families are small farmers (owning less than 2 hectares of land). The Government of Chhattisgarh procures paddy in Chhattisgarh on behalf of Government of India. This scheme benefits about 1 million farmer families by procuring about 3 million metric tons of paddy in the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) of a year, spending about 600 Million US Dollars. The procurement takes place through about 1333 Primary Agricultural Societies in the whole state covering geographical area of 135000 sq. km. The paddy procured is converted into rice by millers after entering into an agreement. Rice is then handed over to Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation to use it in another important scheme for providing food security to the poor. The supply chain of rice production is very simple. It is harvested in the form of paddy from the field and sold to the millers who then process the rice. The processed rice is then sold to the market. Although simple, there are a number of inefficiencies present in its supply chain. This case familiarizes the readers of the distribution system of rice, various government policies in its distribution system, and the issues that need to be addressed in a typical distribution system of rice. The case also urges the readers to mull over how these inefficiencies can be overcome with the latest supply chain management techniques so as to make its distribution efficient and cost effective.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan Shakeel

Present article follow up the recent debates that is being discussed in the country with respect to the National Food Security Act – 2013. Present article is based on the secondary sources of information collected through various books, magazines, journals, newspapers, government and non-governmental reports. The purpose of the article is to trace the discussion among various economist, planners, researchers and policy makers in order to analyse whether National food Security Act is a triumph for those who are in desperate need of it (poor and destitute), or a tragedy for those officials speaking against the Act. The main emphasis of the article is to discuss the cost of implementation of NFSA because it was believed that after its implementation it will put heavy burden on the government exchequer due to subsidies provided under it.  Article also examines the challenges related to Food Corporation of India with respect to procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains. Moreover, article also discusses the NFSA with respect to the Integrated Child Development Scheme, its affect on small and marginal farmers of the country, challenges related to public distribution system.


Author(s):  
Vanguru. Naga Satyanarayana ◽  
Dr. M. Rajasekhara Babu

Public Distribution System in India has been one of the most crucial elements in food policy and food security system in the country. Public Distribution System in has close links with food security for the vulnerable segment of population. It is so because Public Distribution System is considered as a principal instrument in the hands of the government for providing safety net to the poor and thedowntrodden. Public Distribution System is the largest distribution network of its kind in the world. It emerged out as rationing measure in the backdrop of Bengal famine as well as a war-time measure during Second World War. The Government of India in an effort to ensure fair supply of food items to all citizens of India instituted Fair Price Shops (FPS) under Public Distribution System (PDS). Essential commodities such as Rice, Wheat, Sugar, Kerosene, etc., are supplied to the targeted underprivileged sections as per the eligibility and at fixed by the Government of India. In spite of the best efforts by Government officials at various levels, there are a few bottlenecks and inconveniences to the targeted citizens in availing the services provided. Over the years, Public Distribution System has expanded enormously as poverty alleviation and food security measure to become a permanent feature of Indian Economy. The Andhra Pradesh state incorporated various modifications from time to time to make its implementation more relevant for the masses and to increase its effectiveness. This paper analyzes that whether Public Distribution System is able to achieve its objective of providing food security to the people. The present paper discusses a brief review of welfare schemes and also makes a study of existing Public Distribution System in Andhra Pradesh. An attempt has been made in this study to ascertain the problems prevailing in Public Distribution System and to recommend suggestions to make Public Distribution System is more effective.


Author(s):  
Ashok Kotwal ◽  
Bharat Ramaswami

This article begins by tracing the development of the Indian model of food distribution. Food subsidies in India are delivered through the public distribution system, consisting of a network of retail outlets through which the government sells grain. The discussions then turn to the outcomes and the performance of the distribution system, food security legislation, the rights approach to food security, debates over food security legislation, lessons from social assistance programs across the world, and political opposition to cash transfers.


1970 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-47
Author(s):  
Sai Teja Vangala ◽  
Anshuman Singh

Right to food is a basic human right. In India, with increase in population the demand for food is on the rise. Providing adequate food to the teeming millions has been a challenge for the government. This paper explores the origin of right to food while placing the emphasis on the realisation of the right in its true sense. It argues that the state has failed to secure adequate food to its citizenry because of its misplaced priorities and lack of political will. It calls for strengthening of public distribution system and buffer stock to guarantee adequate food security to people.


Author(s):  
Neetu Abey George ◽  
Fiona H. McKay

The Public Distribution System (PDS) of India plays a crucial role in reducing food insecurity by acting as a safety net by distributing essentials at a subsidised rate. While the PDS forms a cornerstone of government food and nutrition policy, India continues to be home to a large population of hungry and malnourished people. This review seeks to explore the functioning and efficiency of the PDS in achieving food and nutritional security in India. A comprehensive and systematic search using the key terms “food insecurity” OR “food security” AND “Public Distribution System” OR “PDS” OR “TPDS” AND “India” identified 23 articles which met the inclusion criteria. This review draws attention to the lack of published literature in areas of PDS and food security in India. The findings of the review emphasise the role of PDS in tackling hunger and malnutrition while highlighting its limited role in improving food security and childhood mortality due to operational inefficiencies. The PDS has the potential to act as a solution to food insecurity in India if the operational inefficiencies and environmental footprints are addressed by adequate policy reforms.


Author(s):  
Abu Reja Md. Parvis

The Indian planners, right from the beginning, realized the need to attain self-sufficiency in food grains as one of the important goals of planning. The government realized that food surplus countries used their food-surplus as a weapon to force food deficit countries to submit to their dictates. Food security implies access by all people at all times to sufficient of food to lead an active and healthy life. P.V. Srinivasan states that food security requires not just adequate supply of food at the aggregate level but also enough purchasing capacity with the individual/household to demand adequate levels of food. The Ninth Plan discussed the problem of food security at national and at the household level. The Planning Commission states: “An approach to national food security, which relies largely on domestic production of food needed for consumption as well as for building buffer stocks, can be described as a strategy of self-sufficiency.” This strategy emphasized the extension of irrigation facilities and later in the sixties adopted seed-water-fertilizer technology popularly known as Green Revolution. As a consequence of these concerted efforts, India was able to avert famines and acute food scarcities, yet it has not been able to provide food “needed for an active and healthy life” to its population. At the household level, food security implies having physical and economic access to food articles that are adequate in terms of quantity, quality and affordability. This raises the question of prices of food articles and the purchasing power in the hand of population. To help the poor sections, the government introduced the Public Distribution System (PDS) and adopted dual price mechanism. At the PDS outlet, the issue price of food articles was kept lower than the market price to enable the poor to purchase subsidized food, but due to political pressure, the government adopted a universal PDS, rather than a targeted PDS focused on the poor.


Social Change ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 208-221
Author(s):  
K. Radhakrishna Murty

India’s tribal population suffers mainly from deprivation and marginalisation. Caught in vicious cycles of poverty and social exclusion, tribals often struggle to survive while opportunities to access information, supplies and essential services elude them. Given this scenario, the present study intends to evaluate and assess the impact of the public distribution system run by the Government of India in a few selected tribal pockets in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the context of food security vis-à-vis the socio-economic situation of tribals. In this process, the study also covers the crucial aspect of a tribal’s right to food from the viewpoint of its availability, accessibility, adequacy and affordability—an area which is still an elusive chimera.


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