Section Article

STUDYING THE FEARS AND DOGMAS OF URBAN WOMEN
Author(s): Tapesh Sinha

Abstract
The Public Distribution System (PDS) represents one of India’s most significant welfare mechanisms aimed at ensuring food security and socioeconomic stability among vulnerable populations. In Assam the PDS plays a crucial role in addressing poverty regional imbalance infrastructural shortcomings ethnic diversity and rural marginalization. However the socioeconomic impact of the system depends not merely on policy frameworks but on implementation efficiency supply-chain transparency beneficiary awareness institutional governance and the interplay between local demographics and welfare administration. This research examines the socioeconomic dimensions of Assam’s Public Distribution System by analyzing how access affordability distribution quality leakages inclusion errors exclusion errors and administrative structures shape the lived experiences of beneficiaries. It explores how geographical challenges tribal settlements riverine (char) regions flood-prone belts and tea-garden communities interact with PDS implementation. Drawing upon literature published up to 2018 this study synthesizes insights from food-security theory welfare economics governance studies rural development research and public-administration frameworks. The analysis reveals that while Assam’s PDS has significantly reduced hunger vulnerability and strengthened social protection persistent issues such as supply interruptions corruption infrastructural constraints and socio-regional inequalities continue to affect its overall socioeconomic impact. Ultimately the paper argues that reforming the PDS in Assam requires context-sensitive policymaking stronger accountability systems technological transparency and inclusive governance models that respond to the unique demographic and geographic realities of the state.