Perception of Fair Price Shops Owners Towards Public Distribution System: A Factor Analytical Approach

Fair price shops (FPSs) have played a vital role in the retail distribution of desirable products, especially to economically underprivileged sections of society. A fair-priced shop is commonly compared to a government-subsidized store. Despite the fairly small commission rates at which fair-pricing shops operate, the majority of shopkeepers and businessmen are eager to get a ration shop license, probably to boost their income. A fair attempt is made in the present study to examine the perspectives and opinions of fair-price shop dealers/owners on the viability of the public distribution system. The perception of Fair price shop owners in the distribution of ration assumes major significance in the analysis of the Public Distribution System. Hence, their views will also strengthen the working of PDS. In the present study Exploratory Factor Analysis has been applied to identify the factors related to major problems faced by the fair price shop dealers/owners concerning PDS, their perceptions towards the ration cardholders, and their perception of the role played by Panchayats in PDS.