Question

What are the drawbacks of' the Public Distribution System?

Answer 1

The Public Distribution System faces severe criticism on several grounds: (i) Instances of hunger are prevalent despite overflowing granaries. FCI godowns are overflowing with grains, with some rotting away and some being eaten of rats.

(ii) The marked ineffectiveness of PDS is criticized severely. It is apparent from the fact that the average consumption of PDS grain at the all India level is only 1 kg per person per month. The average consumption figure is as low as less than 300 gm per person per month in the states of Bihar, Orissa, and Uttar Pradesh. In contrast, the average consumption in most of the southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Himachal Pradesh is in the range of 3-4 kgs per person per month. As a result, the poor have to depend on markets rather than the ration shops for their food needs.

(iii) PDS dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like diverting the grains to open market to get better margin, selling poor quality grains at ration shops, the irregular opening of the shops, etc.

(iv) It is common to find that ration shops regularly have unsold stocks of poor quality grains left. This has proved to be a big problem.

(v) When ration shops are unable to sell, massive stock of foodgrains piles up with the FCI.