Research Journal of Economics & Business Studies - RJEBS - The ...

Public Distribution System and its Service Quality
G. Sangeetha, Ph.D., Research Scholar,
Dr. S. Ramesh Kumar, Associate Professor and Head,
Dr. G. Padma Parvathy & G.Subbulakshmi, Research Department of Commerce,
V.O.C College, Tuticorin, India.
ABSTRACT
The main aim of the study is to examine the Public Distribution System and its service quality.
The cardholders and non-cardholders (n=446) are randomly selected respondents to represent in
Tuticorin districts - Tamil Nadu. Majority of the respondents are housewives, followed by daily wage
earners. The urban area respondents get high quality of services than rural area respondents. Both
married and unmarried respondents have the same level of satisfaction with PDS commodities and
services. There is no delay in issuing cards and no manipulation play very important role in assessing
PDS services. It shows that the satisfaction level on PDS services does not differ with the income of
respondents. Government should take steps to improve the quality of services and to ensure the
distribution at right time to the cardholders.
Key words: Service Quality and Public Distribution System.
INTRODUCTION
Public Distribution System aims at protecting the vulnerable sections of the society by bringing
them into the public distribution network. PDS mainly aims to ensure food safety to the vulnerable
society by providing food substances at affordable price (Swaminathan, A.M, 2010) 1 . The Government
of India provides subsidy to food substances to guarantee the right to have food. The QQP (Quality,
Quantity and Price) management is important for an effective public distribution system. The
government should evolve a mechanism to deal with this aspect. The PDS aims at eradication of rural
poverty and inequality by providing justice to poor (Pattanaik, B.K, 1997) 2 . The service of Public
Distribution System is one of the crucial variables mediating the relationship between aggregate food
availability and the individual entitlements. Generally, the successful functioning of PDS is to be in
adequate quota, correct weight and measures and the availability of commodities to the vulnerable
society (Nakkiran 2004) 3 .
2. MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 SAMPLE SIZE
The quantitative data for the study was collected from 446 respondents randomly selected from
Tuticorin southern district of Tamil Nadu. In the field work, the data were collected through a well
structured questionnaire through personal interview mode at the residence and near FPS after obtaining
consent from them.
2.2 RESEARCH DESIGN
The survey analyses the consumption pattern of the respondents in PDS during the period of
January 2010 to February 2012 as a part of Doctoral research work. The questionnaire was divided
into four sections (1) Demographic factor, (2) Mode of purchase, (3) Ownership and utilization nature
and (4) Amount spending for rice.
2.3 PILOT STUDY
The questionnaire was pre-tested by collecting data from 90 respondents in Tuticorin from
November 2010 to January 2011. The questionnaire was revised and restructured based on the results
of the pilot study. Some additional questions were added after evaluating the questionnaires in the pilot
study.
www.theinternationaljournal.org > RJEBS: Volume: 02, Number: 08, June-2013 Page 54