PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT: A Study of Western Tribal Belt of Madhya Pradesh

The problem of food insecurity in India stands with a questionable mark on its proclaimed development process. The inability of the poor people to manage two square meals in a country where tonnes of foodgrains are accumulated as buffer stocks poses severe questions towards providing food security for all. The inaccessible habitations and low purchasing capacity of tribals, along with the volatile nature of market, further reduce their chances to depend on market.

Public Distribution System (PDS) in India aims to provide foodgrains to the poorer sections at subsidized prices. Although, it cannot eradicate food deficiency completely, it specially emphasizes the smooth supply of foodgrains during critical conditions like droughts, famines and natural calamities apart from its usual services.

It is against this backdrop that the present study makes an attempt to critically assess the implementation of PDS in a tribal-dominated area of Madhya Pradesh and suggest remedial measures for its effective implementation.

Manu Gautam has acquired his Ph.D. in Economics from Pune University and is presently working as a Fellow in Madhya Pradesh Institute of Social Science Research, Ujjain. His research interests include food security, watershed development and issues concerning displacement and rehabilitation. At present, he is conducting an ICSSR-sponsored research project on ‘Watershed Management in Madhya Pradesh’.