Share of rice and wheat consumption from public distribution system in select states of India

This dataset is prepared for the purpose of response to reviewer of our paper on Wellcome Open Research referenced below. That the Public Distribution system (PDS) is invaluable in managing food security in the country is undeniable. The share of rice or wheat consumption from PDS in different states indicates that the percentage is quite less (ranging from 7.6% in Gujarat to 34.3% in Chhattisgarh) . The percentage of improvement in PDS use from 2004-5 to 2011-12 has not led to a commensurate decline in undernutrition in the country8,9. Moreover, the coverage of PDS is much higher in hill-states of northern India and in South Indian states as compared to other regions where malnutrition prevalence is higher. Hence, the likelihood of effects of PDS especially in the regions that we analyse in this paper by the marginal farmers and rural poor is likely to be low with subsistence cultivation continuing to play an important part, especially among the poorest communities. <br><br>