Beneficiary Satisfaction with the Thayumanavar Scheme under Tamil Nadu’s Universal Public Distribution System: Evidence from Pudukkottai District

Abstract

The Thayumanavar Scheme, introduced under Tamil Nadu’s Universal Public Distribution System (UPDS), is a recent welfare initiative that provides doorstep delivery of essential commodities to eligible senior citizens and differently abled persons who face mobility constraints in accessing Fair Price Shops. Although the scheme has been implemented across the state, empirical evidence of its effectiveness remains limited, particularly during the early phase of implementation. To date, no district-level study has comprehensively examined beneficiaries’ awareness, utilization, accessibility, and satisfaction with the scheme. To address this gap, this study provides the first empirical assessment of the Thayumanavar Scheme in the Pudukkottai District. This study adopted a descriptive and analytical research design, and primary data were collected from 170 beneficiaries through a structured interview schedule using a stratified random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. The Chi-square test (χ² = 4.82) indicated no statistically significant association between the beneficiary category and the frequency of benefit utilization. The findings revealed that all respondents were aware of the scheme and had received essential commodities through door-step delivery. Beneficiaries expressed a high level of satisfaction with the quality and quantity of commodities, transparency in distribution, punctuality of delivery, clarity of communication, and behaviour of delivery personnel. The results indicate that the scheme has substantially reduced the accessibility challenges previously experienced by senior citizens and differently abled persons in obtaining their monthly ration entitlements. This study provides valuable district-level evidence on the effectiveness of doorstep delivery under the UPDS and offers practical insights for policymakers to strengthen implementation and assess the potential expansion of similar beneficiary-centered delivery mechanisms within welfare programs. Future research should examine the long-term impact of the scheme on food security, nutritional outcomes, quality of life, and financial sustainability of doorstep delivery across different districts and states.