Impact of Public Distribution System on Poverty Reduction of Weaker Sections of the Society: A Study in Mysore District, India

Abstract

Public distribution system is a national food security system, established by the Government of India under ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution and managed jointly with state Government in India. This system was first introduced in 1939 in Bombay by the British Government as a measure to equitable distribution of food grains to the urban consumers in the face of rising prices over the years the system expanded a very largely emerging as a poverty alleviation measure to become a permanent feature in India food economy. The food security of the world rests on diversity-the diversity of cultural values of farming communities as well as genetic diversity. Food security requires diversity of species, production and distribution systems. Further, it also requires the protection of the human rights-including the inalienable rights of indigenous peoples and farmers’ rights. Food security cannot be isolated from issues of equity in land tenure, pricing policies or trade practices. Public distribution system in India playing a significant role in order to empower the weaker sections of the society those who are living below the poverty line. In this paper an attempt is made to analyse the impact of public distribution system in food security and improving the socio-economic status of the target people in Mysore district.