Kaushik, SushmaDiksha2016-10-192016-10-192015http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/80981The present investigation was carried out in Hisar district of Haryana state. Three urban and three rural Fair Price Shops were selected randomly and from each selected FPS, 25 beneficiaries were selected randomly, thus making a total sample of 150 beneficiaries, Well-structured interview schedule was constructed separately for FPSs and beneficiaries for data collection. A set of 16 independent and 3 dependent variables were selected for investigation. Result revealed that most of respondents were from poor socio- economic background and had low mass media exposure and extension contacts. Majority of respondents had medium awareness regarding objectives, commodities available and display information while large majority of respondents had low awareness regarding eligibility criteria for PDS/FSB. Distance of the PDS lied within the range of 2 km and opened for less than 10 days. Majority of respondents availed wheat always, pulses and sugar sometime, while majority never availed kerosene, rice and coarse grains. The major reason for not availing the commodities was ‘ration dealer refused’ and ‘grain didn’t reach FPS’. The mandatory information to be displayed outside FPS was not actually displayed, the opening days were not fixed and announcement regarding opening was not made. Quality of grain and regularity of supply was same as five years back, but the quantity had decreased. Majority viewed that PDS/FSB very important and were reasonably satisfied with the functioning of PDS/FSB. The economics of Fair Price Shops revealed that when the mode of income of FPS dealer was fixed salary, they were earning amore monthly income as compared commission. It was also found that those shops which had more number of ration cards attached to them earned more profits. Major constraints reported by FPS dealers were low commission and inadequate storage space, while the constraints reported by beneficiaries were ‘short weighment” by FPS dealers’, followed by “fake entries made in the ration card by the dealer’, ‘irregular supply of ration’ and ‘shops not opened everyday’. Awareness regarding PDS/FSB was found significantly and positively co-related with education of respondents, head of household and family occupation. Family income was found negatively and significantly co-related while family size and education of respondents were found significantly and positively co-related with utilization of PDS/FSB.enThesis