Effectiveness of Public Distribution System (Atta-Dal Scheme) and National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods of Rural Poor in Punjab, India

The main focus of the study is to analyse two important policies of the Government of India: The Public Distribution System (PDS) and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). This study is based on primary as well as secondary data. A well-structured questionnaire has been used to collect information from beneficiaries. Three regions, Majha, Malwa, and Doaba, were selected from Punjab, India. The purposive sampling method was followed to select the sample. For the PDS analysis, the Atta-Dal scheme, launched in Punjab in 2007, was considered, and a sample of 480 beneficiaries was interviewed. On the other hand, under the NRLM scheme, a sample of 130 beneficiaries, who are self-help group members, was interviewed. The responses of beneficiaries were perception-based. A five-point Likert scale has been used to determine the level of satisfaction of NRLM beneficiaries. The results show that the Atta-Dal scheme under the PDS in Punjab has improved the food security of the rural poor. Regarding the NRLM, the results reveal that the scheme has improved beneficiaries’ employability and financial independence, especially women, and thus ensured their livelihood sustainability.