Why is Strengthening the Public Distribution System important?

“Distribution is working when the public is getting, while the system is running.”

 

The public Distribution System (PDS) is well-known to us in every domain but it is most popular in the food security sector. India has immensely profited from the chain supply and needs for PDS. With the development of new technology and the change in demands of the public PDS is also changing. A chain of shops was started by the government for the distribution of foods to the weaker division at cheap rates.

 

Many changes are made in PDS ever since Independence year to now. And the system is working effectively for almost every section. It has mostly worked in the food security area. As time passing many improvements were done as a system of management of scarcity through the distribution of food and essential items. The items provided are as a supplement which is not intended to provide for every item needed in a house.

 

Both the Central and State Governments run the PDS. It is ensured that vital supplies are can be accessed by anyone across the country at a cheap price.

Food items like food grains, sugar, and other needed items such as kerosene and edible oil are made available to people at cheap rates so that their minimum needs are met in this transaction system. Availability of supplies is made sure by constant monitoring to make PDS efficient.

 

Wheat, Rice, Sugar, Kerosene are the main supplements in PDS. This PDS is the world’s largest food security system costing around 1.4 Trillion which is 1.4% of the nation’s income.

 

Some states like Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat have added new technology to the PDS system. The type of steps taken is the computerization of offtake of grains, recording of acquisitions and total produce, storage and distribution, installation of electronic point of sale machines in fair price shops, and timely monitoring at every stage.

 

The digitization of receivers’ databases and confirmation of their individualities through Aadhaar has resulted in the scraping of over 23 million fake ration cards and savings of Rs 14,000 crore of annual food subsidy.

 

Odisha has set a new example in front of the nation by creating a great working model of PDS. They started their work in the year 2004. Help was taken from self-help groups (SHGs) and gram panchayat to find people who are in need and link them digitally to the databases. Help was also taken from cooperatives, non-government organizations to ensure transparency in the system.

 

Transparency of work is also important in the working of any system. When we work together it is important to ensure efficiency and prediction for the future. Other states should adopt the working model of the PDS of Odhisha.

 

It becomes immense importance for the models of PDS to work efficiently as we have to achieve United Nations (UN) Food Security goals under Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This would also help accomplish the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) initiative of the Indian government.

 

It’s very important to develop a PDS in the health sector too. Various needs of patients like a supply of oxygen cylinders, medicines, Vaccines can be met with this system. Food for patients and their relatives should also be taken into consideration. Every sector should have a PDS for efficient work.

 

Sectors like living standards, health care, minimum-employment generation, education should be enforced in this sector. PDS has more success rate because of its way of distribution as it can easily reach needy people. In the case of a developing country, it is one of the most vital and vocal ways to work towards achieving the SDGs of the UN.