WHY INDIA’S ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME FAILS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF BENEFICIARIES

Economic and Political Weekly Podcast

Why India’s One-size-fits-all Food Security Programme Fails to Address the Needs of Beneficiaries.

In this podcast EPW team speaks with Devesh Roy, Senior Research Fellow, International Food Policy Research Institute, South Asia and  Mamata Pradhan, Research Collaborator, International Food Policy Research Institute, South Asia about India's food security programmee, the Public Distribution System.

How do Indians prefer accessing foodgrains under food security programmes— through direct cash transfers, the existing public distribution system or food coupons? Researchers Mamata Pradhan and Devesh Roy investigate how local power relations impact people's preferences for delivery mechanisms by surveying 1,600 households across three states. Their findings offer ways in which the current model can be reformed.

The insights  shared are based on an article published in EPW on 19 October 2019 titled “What Is the Effective Delivery Mechanism of Food Support in India?”

To listen to the complete Podcast click here