Title: Food security through targeted public distribution system: myth or reality? Insight from Barpeta district, Assam

Authors: Shrabanti Maity

Addresses: Department of Economics, Vidyasagar University, West Bengal, India

Abstract: This paper investigates the role of the public distribution system as an instrument to ensure food security in the marginal area of India like Barpeta district, Assam involving 'char' areas and nearby areas other than 'char'. The study used calorie gain and fiscal transfer methods to estimate the calorie gain and subsidy transfer through the public district system and its indirect benefits as a window for the poor to improve food security. Self-developed food security index is also used to identify the food security status of the study area. The robustness of the results was checked based on propensity score matching (PSM) technique. The study established that the public distribution system although ensures calorie and income gain but is less effective in ensuring food security and removing under-nourishment in the study area in its present structure.

Keywords: public distribution system; PDS; food security; Barpeta district; propensity score matching; PSM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2021.115406

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2021 Vol.23 No.1, pp.111 - 137

Received: 08 Jan 2020
Accepted: 08 Jun 2020
Published online: 01 Jun 2021 *

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