Public Distribution System in Rural India: Implications for Food Safety and Consumer Protection

Public distribution system in India, a government created system intended to ensure food security and supply of other essentials to the rural poor has failed to protect the interests of the poor. The failure has been primarily due to corruption in the system. This paper focuses on the magnitude of such corruption at micro level, its implications and suggestions for revamping. The role of Consumer Clubs which have been established in the rural schools to strengthen PDS and to provide food security was examined in this context.