scholarly journals THE SAGA OF FOOD SECURITY IN WEST BENGAL

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-202
Author(s):  
Ranjan Basu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
West Bengal ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Welfare Programs ◽  
Public Distribution System ◽  
The People ◽  
Bank Transfer ◽  
Support Price ◽  
Food Grain

Undivided Bengal in India was struck by series of famines during the pre-colonial and colonial periods. In post partition era though there is no record of famine, starvation and malnutrition are not unknown in West Bengal among the people lying below the poverty line. Lacunae in the public distribution system might be one major hurdle. Implementation of several welfare programs and National Food Security Act, 2013 seems to be conducive to control the menace of starvation. But the concept of food security has been deduced to food grain security only without any provision of protein, minerals and vitamins, the essential ingredients of nutrition. Nutrition of mothers, children and senior citizens along with male bias of nutrition—all are in question now. Throughout India while farmers are living in debt from hand to mouth, agriculture is no more a lucrative occupation. Several measures have been introduced to combat such a disastrous situation viz. efficient storage and marketing system, loan waiver, bank transfer of grant-in-aid, minimum support price and efficient public distribution system, apart from targeted nutrition schemes. But no one can be considered as effective action so far to break the ice.

scholarly journals Role of Public Distribution System in Andhra Pradesh an Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanguru. Naga Satyanarayana ◽  
Dr. M. Rajasekhara Babu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Fair Price ◽  
Public Distribution System ◽  
The People ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Masses

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.

scholarly journals Food Security: Indian Perspective

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy Chakraborty
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Committee Report ◽  
Supreme Court Of India ◽  
The People ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Food Grain

The issue of Food security, climate change, and environmental problems are all closely related to each other.   Our economy is agro-based economy. So here, agricultural sector plays a pivotal role.  Draft National Food Security Bill was introduced  2years ago.  The Supreme Court of India has declared right to food as a fundamental right to life.  Since independence, series of measures have been taken by the Govt. However, the number of undernourished persons have increased from 210 million in 1992 to 252 million in 2004-06. India is about half of the worlds’ undernourished   children. India’s position is deteriorating day by day. Government of India fixed a quantity of 35 kg. of food grain per head per month for the people staying below poverty line.   Actual determination of the poor people is very confusing. Different institutions ( National & International) in different time introduces various measures to determine the extent of poverty and to find out the no of poor people. According to World Bank standard the people whose earnings are $1.25 per day are included in the group of   Extremely poor  and the group of people whose earnings are $2 per day are counted as Moderately poor.  In India it is assumed that 50% people are lying under poverty line ( N.C. Saksena  committee report ).  According to Tendulkar committee report, 42 % of people in our country are lying under the poverty line. After so many years of study, it has not been decided that how many persons are lying below the poverty  line actually.  According to the Planning Commission, in Rural area , people whose earnings are <Rs. 750 per month & in urban area < Rs. 870 per month are lying below the poverty line. There is not a big difference among the condition of the people who lies below the poverty line or just above the poverty line.

scholarly journals A STUDY ON THE ETHICAL ASPECTS OF THE PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM: WITH REFERENCE TO JAMIRAH GAON PANCHAYAT SAMABAY SAMITI OF DIBRUGARH DISTRICT

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 256-262
Author(s):  
Ananya Sarmah ◽  
Himadree Gogoi
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Rice Flour ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Fair Price ◽  
Ethical Aspects ◽  
Public Distribution System ◽  
The People ◽  
Indian Food ◽  
Access To Food

Public Distribution System (PDS), an Indian food security system, is a means for ensuring food security to the poor and the needy. Essential commodities like rice, flour, kerosene etc., are supplied to the people under the PDS at subsidised prices. It was started with the objective to maintain price stability of essential commodities, providing access to food and other essential items at affordable prices to the population. It is important for the functioning of the PDS to be ethical in order to meet the true objectives with which this system was actually started. It has been seen that there have been a number of malpractices in the functioning of the system. This paper looks into the ethical aspects of the functioning of PDS. In doing so, customers’ point of view in respect of the overall system has been taken. And an effort has been made to bring to light any malpractice that may be occurring in the system. This paper is a descriptive one which takes a sample of 46 respondents that have been selected on the basis of the number of fair price shops in the JamirahGaon Panchayat SamabaySamiti of Dibrugarh district of Assam.

scholarly journals Role of Public Distribution System in Andhra Pradesh an Analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanguru. Naga Satyanarayana ◽  
Dr. M. Rajasekhara Babu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Food Policy ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Fair Price ◽  
Public Distribution System ◽  
The People ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Masses

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

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