Abstract Paper

Journal of Social Sciences and Management Research

Title	: Public Food Delivery System in Urban Tamil Nadu
Author(s)	: Dr.J.V.Arun
Article Information	: Volume 03 - Issue 01 (July - 2018) , 44-50
Affiliation(s)	: Sacred Heart College (Autonomous), Tirupattur

Abstract :

Food insecurity in urban areas is a resultant process of urbanization, itself and it leaves a strong imprint on the lives of urban poor as they are more vulnerable to market volatility. Public Food Delivery System (PFDS) acts as a catalyst in strengthening food security among urban population. Tamil Nadu being the third most urbanized state in the country, a study on the states food delivery systems is much warranted. In this set-up, the paper makes an attempt to study the performance of PFDS in the state with the help of available secondary data on three important programmes namely Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). The paper exclusively examines National Sample Survey data on urban beneficiary household of rice and wheat from PDS across different consumption expenditure classes. The study also examines percentage of urban household (with at least one member) benefiting from MDMS and ICDS across different social groups as well as among different consumption expenditure classes. At the outset, the variables under study look into the dependency of households on PFDS in the context of urbanization. The present study found out that consumption of rice from PDS is highest in bottom 30% of the Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) classes and on the other hand utilization of wheat is more among 40% of the MPCE classes in the state of Tamil Nadu. As far as MDMS is concerned, highest numbers of households belonging to SC/STs are using the scheme. And, if the same delivery system is examined for different MPCE classes, it can be observed that beneficiary households are highest in bottom 30% category of the urban areas. In ICDS, urban beneficiary household is higher among OBCs of the state. Creating awareness among the non- responding bottom deciles of the MPCE classes and excluding non-responding top deciles of the MPCE classes from the service area are some of the measures to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of PFDS in urban Tamil Nadu.

Keywords	: urbanization, consumption, households, social groups
Document Type	: Research Paper
Publication date	: July 11, 2018