The objectives of the PDS
- To protect the low income groups by guaranteeing the supply of certain minimum quantities of food grains at affordable price.
- Ensuring equitable distribution.
- Controlling the price rise of Essential Commodities in the open market.
- To have a moderating influence on the open market prices of cereals, the distribution of which constitutes a fairly big share of the total marketable surplus
- To attempt socialisation in the matter of distribution of essential commodities.
Mission of PDS
- Food grains to the poor, at prices lower than the price of food grains at private shops.
- Food grains are directly purchased from farmers, assuring farmers with a greater price.
- Make goods available to consumers, especially the disadvantaged /vulnerable sections of society at fair prices.
- Rectify the existing imbalances between the supply and demand for consumer goods. Check and prevent hoarding and black marketing in essential commodities.
- Ensure social justice in distribution of basic necessities of life.
- Even out fluctuations in prices and availability of mass consumption goods.
- Support poverty-alleviation programmes, particularly, rural employment programmes, (SGRY/SGSY/IRDP/ Mid-day meals, ICDS, DWCRA, SHGs and Food for Work and educational feeding programmes.
Importance of PDS
- PDS ensures Food and Nutritional Securityof the nation by making the food affordable, accessible and available to the poorest of the poor.
- PDS helps to maintain a buffer stock of food grainsensuring flow of food remain active even during the periods of crisis.
- It has helped in redistribution of grainsby supplying food from surplus regions of the country to deficient regions.
- The system of minimum support price and procurement has contributed to the increase in food grain production.
- It helps in stabilising food prices.
