describe the journey of public distribution system from beginning to present times
Answers
{1} Public Distribution System {PDS} is the system in which the food procured by the FCI is distributed through government regulated ration shops among the poorer section of the society. {2} PDS is the most important step taken by the Government of India towards ensuring food security. In the beginning, the coverage of PDS was universal with no discrimination between the poor and non-poor. {3} Over the years, the policy related to PDS has been revised to make it more efficient and targeted. In 1992, Revamped Public Distribution System {RPDS} was introduced in 1700 blocks in the country. The target was to provide the benefits of PDS to remote and backward areas. {4} From June 1997, Targeted Public Distribution System {TPDS} was introduced to adopt the principle of targeting the poor in all areas. {5} In 2000, Antyodaya Anna Yojna {AAY} and the Annapurna Scheme {APS} were launched with special target groups of poorest of the poor and indigent senior citizens, respectively. They were linked with the existing network of the PDS.