Contribution of Public Distribution System in Nutritional Intake among Poor and Non-poor Households: Evidence from Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

This study provided evidence of the role of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in fulfilling consumption requirements and nutritional intake among poor and non-poor households in Himachal Pradesh, India. The study employed the primary data collected from 400 beneficiaries of PDS and found a significant, positive contribution of subsidized commodities in nutritional intake among poor and non-poor people. The contribution of PDS commodities to calorie, protein, and fat intake was about 54.78, 50.12, and 35.43 per cent among poor households and 41.31, 35.70, and 27.88 per cent among non-poor households, respectively. Further, the findings revealed that the importance of PDS was much higher among poorer segments of the population than among the non-poor. The study concluded that the subsidized cereals and pulses were significant sources of calorie and protein intake in the study area, especially among the poorer ones. The study underlined the strengthening of the PDS functioning and the transition in dietary energy intake in the state by diversifying the food basket. Keywords: Food group, food security, nutrition intake, subsidized commodities. JEL Codes: C01, C83, H53, I38.