Is PDS Urban Biased and Pro-Rich-An Evaluation

Is PDS Urban Biased and Pro-Rich?
An Evaluation S Mahendra Dev M H Suryanarayana The performance of the public distribution system in India has come in for severe criticism on the grounds that it is urban biased and that it benefits by and large the middle and upper income groups in the urban areas. This study attempts to evaluate the validity of these criticisms using the latest available NSS data on utilisation of the public distribution system. The study concludes that the debate is no longer one of urban versus rural in most of the states but whether the PDS serves the purpose of protecting the vulnerable sections of society.