A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM ON THE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUP HILL KORWA OF CHHATTISGARH STATE

This study begins with the understanding of the role that PDS plays on the lives of the identified community; the Hill Korwa tribal people in the north district of Chhattisgarh India. PDS is a major part of India’s social security structure with an aimed to deliver food items of necessity among the disadvantaged communities. But it has left undesired impacts: especially in receipt and accruing net advantages by Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) like community of Hill Korwa. In this study, simple random sampling is used to sample 327 respondents from districts of Jashpur, Balrampur, Sarguja and Korba which host the Hill Korwa tribe personal interviews and structured questionnaires are used to collect primary data. However, data obtained from Government sources and other institutional players strengthens the research findings. This according to the research shows that respondents are satisfied with PDS services with 23.85% completely satisfied while 37.00% are… However, 70.03 % of them noted that ration provided to them is inadequate to sustain them throughout the month. Holding 100% awareness among the respondents concerning adequacy of food during lock down the PDS emerged most important during the COVID-19 situation and accordingly, the study indicates that a dependency on PDS is seen among the Hill Korwa where 90.52% has received ration as such during the lock down. More rice was needed by many of the respondents, indicating that in shaping PDS provisions, consideration for the palate and nutritionary wants or needs of consumers is crucial.