SIGNIFICANCE OF TPDS FOR POVERTY REDUCTION – A STUDY IN THE LIGHT OF INDIAN LEGAL REGIME

Dr. Pratim Sarkar, Associate Professor, Haldia Law College

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ABSTRACT

Poverty, hunger and food insecurity omnipresent reality in India. The Government has implemented many programmes, schemes and policies to control poverty and foster development. The Right to food is a basic human right and deeply linked with the right to live with dignity. Articles 21, 39(a) & 27 of the Constitution mandates the states to provide adequate means of livelihood, raise the level of nutrition and standard of living of the citizens. As per the data report of national and international agencies, a large number people in India are suffering from malnutrition, undernourished, underweight and stunted. In many cases Indian Judiciary has taken serious concern about the socio-economic offences. Targeted Public Distribution System is a major and wide-ranging poverty alleviation programme in India that leads towards the socio-economic welfare of the people. Essential foodstuffs like rice, sugar, wheat, kerosene and other goods are supplied to people through this system at a cheap price. Though it is a commendable step to ensure food security to the needy people but could not achieve its desired results because of widespread corruption, leakage of funds and other reasons.

Key Words – Human Development, Constitution, Malnutrition, Hunger, Judiciary, Targeted Public Distribution System, Corruption, Leakage.