Vol. 9, Special Issue 1, Part N (2025)

The study evaluated the effectiveness of Public Distribution System (PDS) at Chhattisgarh in ensuring food security for low-income households. It focused on criteria such as accessibility to distribution points, use of E-POS devices, supply timeliness, ration quantities, FPS regularity, and anti-black marketing measures. The findings showed a high overall effectiveness with a 92.45% satisfaction rate, indicating strong PDS performance, though improvements were needed in distribution accessibility and E-POS functionality. The PDS significantly reduced monthly household expenditures in Dongargarh and Rajnandgaon by providing essential items like rice, sugar, salt, and kerosene at subsidized rates. For instance, households in Dongargarh (FPS I) reported savings of Rs. 1167.46, while FPS II users saved Rs. 1185.12. In Rajnandgaon, savings reached up to Rs. 1002.31 and Rs. 1075.12 for FPS III and IV, respectively. Regular purchases of staples like rice, sugar, and salt were made by all beneficiaries, though kerosene purchases varied, with FPS 2 showing 83.33% regularity. Overall, the PDS effectively supported low-income households through financial savings and consistent access to basic necessities, highlighting the need for further improvements to enhance its food security impact.