Food Security and the Targeted Public Distribution System in India

Annual food production is enough to feed the 6.9 billion people in the world today. However, access and distribution of food in order that people do not have to die due to hunger continues to remain elusive even in the 21st century making food security one of the major global challenges. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and other organisations of the United Nations; World Food Convention (WFC); and other NonGovernmental Organisations are providing food in emergencies and helping save many people’s lives. But their efforts to strengthen capacities of countries to reduce hunger have remained inadequate. Some country programmes, in particular China and Brazil, have been successful through the progress they have achieved in providing access to food for their people and reducing poverty. Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in India, launched in 1997, seeks transparent and accountable distribution of food for the poor. If TPDS meets the challenges of efficient and accountable implementation, it can ensure people have regular physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet nutritional needs.