2. What is public distributing system(PDS)? What are the problems of the
functioning of ration shops in India ?
Answers
Answer:
Definition of 'Public Distribution System' Definition: Public distribution system is a government-sponsored chain of shops entrusted with the work of distributing basic food and non-food commodities to the needy sections of the society at very cheap prices. Wheat, rice, kerosene, sugar, etc.
The following problems are there in the functioning of ration shops:
(i) The 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, irregular opening of the shops etc.
(ii) It is common to find that ration shops regularly have unsold stocks of poor quality grains left.
(iii) When ration shops are unable to sell, a massive stock of foodgrains piles up with the FCI.
(iv) Sometimes these stored grains are rotten away.