MCQs OF FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS - MCQs and Q&A
CLASS 09 | NCERT | ECONOMICS | CHAPTER 04 |
| Questions on Food Security in India |
1. MSP refers to:
(a) Minimum Support Price
(b) Maximum Support Price
(c) Marginal Support Price
(d) None of the above
(a) Landless people
(b) Traditional artisans
(c) Beggars
(d) All the above
3. Green Revolution in the 1960s was associated with:
(a) Use of HYV seeds
(b) Tree plantation programme
(c) Fisheries development
(d) None of the above
4. Public Distribution System is associated with:
(a) Fair price shops
(b) Cooperative stores
(c) Super bazaars
(d) None of the above
5. Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) aimed to provide benefits to:
(a) Cities
(b) Remote and backward areas
(c) Self-help groups
(d) Cooperative societies
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6. White Revolution of the country is associated with:
(a) Sugar
(b) Milk
(c) Paper
(d) None of the above
7. Annapurna Scheme (APS) meets the food requirements of:
(a) Indigent senior citizens
(b) Children
(c) Pregnant ladies
(d) Young persons
8. Antyodaya cards are related to
(a) All poor
(b) Poorest of the poor
(c) Persons below poverty line
(d) None of the above
9. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Annapurna Scheme (APS) are linked with:
(a) Public distribution system
(b) Mid-day meal
(c) Special nutrition programme
(d) None of the above
10. Under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) food grains given per family per month are:
(a) 40 kg
(b) 35 kg
(c) 25 kg
(d) 20 kg
11. In which state 94% ration shops are run by cooperatives
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Orissa
(d) Bihar
12. Average consumption of PDS grains per person per month at all India level is:
(a) 1 kg
(b) 4 kg
(c) 300 gm
(d) 500 gm
13. The society which facilitated setting up of grain banks in different regions is:
(a) Amul (Gujarat)
(b) Academy of Development Science (Maharashtra)
(c) Mother Dairy (Delhi)
(d) None of the above
14. Minimum Support Price (MSP) is announced by the government to provide:
(a) Incentives to farmers for raising production
(b) Incentives to traders to earn maximum profit from farmers
(c) Incentives to moneylenders to lend maximum to farmers
(d) None of the above
15. Seasonal hunger occurs in:
(a) Urban areas
(b) Rural areas
(c) Metro cities
(d) Both (a) and (b)
16. Which crop registered the largest increase in production as a result of Green Revolution?
(a) Wheat
(b) Rice
(c) Maize
(d) None of the above
17. Main purpose of buffer stock scheme is:
(a) To save food grains from pest attack
(b) To stop price fluctuations
(c) To meet the crisis of low production
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Ans. (d)
18. Under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), subsidized rate for wheat is:
(a) Rs 3/- per kg
(b) Rs 2/- per kg
(c) Rs 4/- per kg
(d) Rs 5/- per kg
19. Food security means:
(a) Availability of food
(b) Accessibility of food
(c) Affordability of food
(d) All the above
20. Massive starvation takes place due to:
(a) Rise in the price of essential commodities
(b) Decline in production of food grains
(c) Drought
(d) Both (a) and (b)
21. Chronic hunger refers to:
(a) Low income
(b) Inadequate quantity of food
(c) Inadequate quality of food
(d) All the above
22. The most devastating famine occurred in India in 1943 in:
(a) Assam
(b) Bengal
(c) Bihar
(d) Orissa
23. In which of the following states do we find the largest number of food insecure people?
(a) Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa
(b) Bihar, Jharkhand and Gujarat
(c) Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamilnadu
(d) Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka
24. In which state of India, Amul Dairy is situated?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Gujarat
(c) Karnataka
(d) Bihar
25. Who released a special stamp entitled ‘Wheat Revolution’ in July 1968?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Indira Gandhi
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Motilal Nehru
26. The price that is announced before the sowing season is called:
(a) Issue price
(b) Fair price
(c) Market price
(d) Minimum support price
27. To whom the yellow card is issued?
(a) To shop keeper
(b) To land lord's
(c) To government employee
(d) People below the poverty line
28. Which are the special target groups in Antyodaya Anna Yojana?
(a) Poorest of the poor
(b) Poor and non-poor
(c) Backward class
(d) None of these
29. Food for Work Programme was launched in which of the following years?
(a) 2003
(b) 2001
(c) 2004
(d) 2005
Ans. (c)
30. Kalahandi is situated in which of the following states?
(a) Orissa
(b) Punjab
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Bihar
31. The Mother Dairy is an important cooperative in
(a) Gujarat
(b) Punjab
(c) Haryana
(d) Delhi
32. Women and children under the age of five are food insecure population due to:
(a) Malnutrition
(b) Healthy diet
(c) Fats
(d) None of the above
33. F.C.I. stands for
(a) Foreign Co-operation with India
(b) Food Corporation of India
(c) Fossils Corporation of India
(d) Food Coming to India
34. Which among the following schemes was started in the year 2000 for the indigent senior citizens?
(a) PDS
(b) NFWP
(c) SGSY
(d) APS
35. Name the cooperative that provides milk and vegetables controlled rate decided by the Government of Delhi:
(a) Amul
(b) Kendriya Bhandar
(c) Mother Dairy
(d) None of these
36. Which among the following schemes was initiated for the poor in all areas?
(a) TPDS
(b) RPDS
(c) AAY
(d) All of these
37. Buffer stock is the stock of food grains procured by the government through
(a) IFCI
(b) FCI
(c) IDBI
(d) FICCI
38. In which part of the country, grain banks have been set up by NGO's?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Haryana
(c) Punjab
(d) Maharashtra
39. When was the Antyodaya Anna Yojana scheme launched?
(a) In Jan 1999
(b) In May 2000
(c) In Dec 2000
(d) In October 2005
40. Percentage of seasonal as well as chronic hunger in India over the years has
(a) Increased
(b) Decreased
(c) Remained constant
(d) None of these
41. The concept of ‘entitlements’ was introduced by:
(a) Pranab Mukharjee
(b) Amartya Sen
(c) Manmohan Singh
(d) Sonia Gandhi
42. Which institution was set up by Maharashtra Academy of Development Science to facilitate a network of NGO's?
(a) Gramin banks
(b) Grain banks
(c) Co-operative banks
(d) Commercial banks
43. Who is the nodal officer at district level?
(a) Commissioner
(b) Superintendent of police
(c) District officer
(d) Collector
44. In year 2000 which of the following programmes was launched?
(a) APS
(b) NREGA
(c) PDS
(d) PMGY
45. In which of the following years was the food grain stock with the FCI the maximum?
(a) 2001
(b) 2009
(c) 2002
(d) 2000
46. Which are the two places in Orissa where starvation deaths are reported?
(a) Kalahandi and Puri
(b) Kashipur and Bhubaneshwar
(c) Kalahandi and Kashipur
(d) Puri and Bhubaneshwar
47. Which of the following places of Jharkhand witnessed starvation death recently?
(a) Dhanbad
(b) Ranchi
(c) Palamau
(d) Puri
48. In which year was the Integrated Child Development Service (ICDS) introduced?
(a) 1965
(b) 1975
(c) 1985
(d) 1995
49. NREGA provides:
(a) 200-days of assured work
(b) 100-days of assured work
(c) No assured work
(d) None of the above
50. In which decades was the Rationing System introduced in India?
(a) 1940s
(b) 1950s
(c) 1960s
(d) 1970s
Answers of 50 MCQs on Food Security in India
1. (a) Minimum Support Price
2. (d) All the above
3. (a) Use of HYV seeds
4. (a) Fair price shops
5. (b) Remote and backward areas
6. (b) Milk
7. (a) Indigent senior citizens
8. (b) Poorest of the poor
9. (a) Public distribution system
10. (b) 35 kg
11. (b) Tamil Nadu
12. (a) 1 kg
13. (b) Academy of Development Science (Maharashtra)
14. (a) Incentives to farmers for raising production
15. (b) Rural areas
16. (a) Wheat
17. (d) Both (b) and (c)
18. (b) Rs 2/- per kg
19. (d) All the above
20. (c) Drought
21. (d) All the above
22. (b) Bengal
23. (a) Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa
24. (a) Rajasthan
25. (b) Indira Gandhi
26. (d) Minimum support price
27. (d) People below the poverty line
28. (a) Poorest of the poor
29. (c) 2004
30. (a) Orissa
31. (d) Delhi
32. (a) Malnutrition
33. (b) Food Corporation of India
34. (d) APS
35. (c) Mother Dairy
36. (d) All of these
37. (b) FCI
38. (d) Maharashtra
39. (c) In Dec 2000
40. (b) Decreased
41. (b) Amartya Sen
42. (b) Grain banks
43. (d) Collector
44. (a) APS
45. (c) 2002
46. (c) Kalahandi and Kashipur
47. (c) Palamau
48. (b) 1975
49. (b) 100-days of assured work
50. (a) 1940s
NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS OF FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA
Question1.
(a) Why is agriculture a seasonal activity?
Ans: Agriculture is a seasonal occupation because farmers remain out of work for 4 to 5 months in a year.
(b) Why is Ramu unemployed for about four months in a year?
Ans: Because Ramu works as a casual labourer in agriculture. Agriculture being a seasonal activity, Ramu gets works only during the times of sowing, transplanting and harvesting. He remains unemployed for about 4 months during the period of plant cultivation and maturing in a year.
(c) What does Ramu do when he is unemployed?
Ans: He looks for work in other activities such as construction activities, brick laying etc. in the village.
(d) Who are supplementing income in Ramu’s family?
Ans: Ramu’s three sons and food grower also work on the field. His wife works as a house cleaner for the livestock, removing and managing cow dung.
(e) Why does Ramu face difficulty when he is unable to get work?
Ans: Ramu faces difficulty when he is unable to get work because on that particular day he has no savings to spend upon his family.
(f) When is Ramu food insecure?
Ans: Ramu is food insecure during 4 months when he remains unemployed.
Question2.
(a) Does Ahmed have a regular income from rickshaw-pulling?
Ans: No, Ahmed's earning from rickshaw-pulling fluctuates every day.
(b) How does the yellow card help Ahmed run his family even with small earnings from rickshaw-pulling?
Ans: With his yellow card, Ahmed gets sufficient quantity of wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene oil for his daily requirements. He gets these essential items at half of the market price. In this way, Ahmed is able to manage his family even with small earnings.
Question3.
Graph 4.1: Production of Food grains in India (Million Tonnes)
Source: Economic Survey 2004-05.
Study the Graph 4.1 and answer the following questions:
(a) In which year did our country cross the 200 million tonnes per year mark in food grain production?
(b) In which decade did India experience the highest decadal increase in food grain production?
(c) Is production increase consistent in India since 2000-01?
Ans:
(a) In 2001-02 (212.9 million tonnes) in 20.3-04 (213.5 million tonnes)
(b) During 1980-81 to 1990-91
(c) No.
Question4.
Graph 4.2: Central Food grains (Wheat + Rice) Stock and Minimum Buffer Norm (Million Tonnes)
Study the Graph 4.2 and answer the following questions:
1. In which recent year food grain stock with the government was maximum?
2. What is the minimum buffer stock norm for the FCI?
3. Why were the FCI granaries overflowing with food grains?
Ans:
1. In 2002
2. 24.3 million tonnes
3. Because poor people were not able to buy food.
Questions and Answers on Food Security in India - Class 9
1. When is food security ensured?
Ans. Food security is ensured under the following conditions:
(a) When food is available in adequate quantity as well as quality to meet nutritional requirements.
(b) When food is within the reach of every person.
(c) When an individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.
2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity?
Ans: People more prone to food insecurity are:
(i) Landless and small farmers
(ii) Traditional artisans
(iii) Providers of traditional services
(iv) Petty self-employed persons and
(v) Beggars
3. Which states are more food insecure in India?
Ans: More food insecure states of India:
The states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are more food-insecure in India.
4. Do you believe that Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How?
Ans: After Independence, Indian policy-makers adopted all possible measures to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains. India adopted a new strategy in agriculture which resulted in the Green Revolution. Green Revolution took place especially in the production of wheat and rice. The core of this new strategy was the use of HYV seeds along with chemical fertilizer and assured water supplies. As a result, total production of food grains increased from 50.8 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 212.0 million tonnes in 2003-04. The largest contribution came from wheat, whose production rose from 6.4 million tonnes to 72.1 million tonnes.
5. A section of people in India are still without food. Explain.
Ans: Despite large increase in food grain production we find people without food in India. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger. They find themselves unable to buy food. Over one-fifth of the country’s population still suffers from chronic hunger.
6. What happens to the supply of food when there is a disaster or a calamity?
Ans: The supply of food is adversely affected during a natural calamity or disaster. Due to a natural calamity, say drought, the production of food grains is less and hence supplies decreases.
7. Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger.
Ans: Hunger has seasonal and chronic dimensions. Seasonal hunger is a consequence of seasonal nature of work. For example, agriculture in India is seasonal occupation. Farm labourers remain out of work during some months of the year. Hence, during off-season poor people are not able to buy food. On the other hand, chronic hunger exists among people who are not able to buy food because of their very low income. For example land fewer labourers earn very less to earn enough for food.
8. What has our government done to provide food security for the poor? Discuss any two schemes launched by the government.
Ans: Our government has undertaken a number of measures to provide food security for the poor.
A brief account of these measures is given below:
1. Maintenance of Buffer Stock. Our government maintains buffer stock of food grains through Food Corporation of India. The FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers in surplus states and stores in granaries.
2. Public Distribution System (PDS). The food procured by the FCI is distributed among the poor through ration shops. Presently, there are about 4.6 lakh ration shops in the country.
3. Nutritional Programmes. In order to provide nutritional security, our government has launched various schemes. Mid-day meal scheme for schoolchildren, scheme for supply of food grains to scheduled castes/scheduled tribes and special nutrition programmes for pregnant/nursing mothers are examples of such schemes. In 2000, two special schemes were launched. One, Antyodaya Anna Yojana and second, the Annapurna Schemes. The former relate to the poorest of the poor, while the latter targets indigent senior citizens. The functioning of these two schemes was linked with the PDS.
Under AAY scheme, thirty-five kilograms of food grains are made available to each eligible family at a rate of Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 3 per kg for rice.
Under APS, 10 kilograms of food grains is made available to eligible persons free of cost.
9. Why is buffer stock created by the government?
Ans: The government creates buffer stock of food grains to protect the interest of both farmers as well as consumers. Farmers’ interests are protected when they are assured to get a certain minimum price for their crops. This price is called ‘minimum support price’.
The interests of the consumers are protected when the procured food is made available to the consumers at subsidized rates. This task is done through fair price shops.
10. Write notes on:
(a) Minimum Support Price
(b) Issue Price
(c) Fair Price Shops
Ans:
(a) Minimum Support Price: With a view to provide incentives to the farmers for raising the production of their crops, the government announces price of some crops before the sowing season. The government remains ready to purchase their crops at these pre-announced prices. This price is called minimum support price (MSP).
(b) Issue Price: The purchased food grains are stored in granaries. This is done to distribute food grains among the poorer section of the society. The government makes food grains available to the poor at a price much lower than the market price. This is known as issue price.
(c) Fair Price Shops: The food procured by the government is distributed among the poor. This task is done through government regulated shops which are known as fair price shops.
11. What are the problems of the functioning of ration shops?
Ans: There are various problem of the functioning of ration shops such as;
1. Ration cards are issued only to those people who have their proper residential addresses. Hence a large number of homeless poor fail to get ration from these shops.
2. The owners of these shops sell ration in the open market at higher prices.
3. Sometimes shopkeepers make bogus entries in the ration cards.
12. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related items.
Ans: Role of Cooperatives in providing food and related items is as follows:-
The cooperatives are playing an important role in food security in India, especially in the southern and western parts of the country. The cooperative societies set up shops to sell goods to the poor people at lower prices. For example, out of all fair price shops operating in Tamil Nadu, nearly 94 percent are being run by the cooperatives. In Delhi, Mother Dairy is providing milk and vegetables to the consumers at controlled prices which are decided by the Delhi Government. Amul is another example in this regard. It has brought about the White Revolution in the country. There are many more cooperatives and NGOs also working intensively towards this direction.
Short Answer Questions on Food Security in India
1. What are the essentials of food security system?Ans: Essentials of Food Security System are the following:
a. Increasing domestic production of food to meet its growing demand
b. Food should be available in adequate quantity as well as to meet nutritional requirements
c. Food should be available at reasonable prices
d. Buffer stock of food should be maintained
2. How is food security affected during a natural calamity?
Ans: In the times of any natural calamity, say a drought, total production of food grains declines. It creates a shortage of food, particularly in the affected areas. Due to shortage of food, the prices go up in the market. At high prices, poor people may not afford to buy food. If such a calamity occurs in a large area, it may lead to starvation.
3. Why is there need for self-sufficiency in food grains in India?
Ans: Need for self-sufficiency in food grains arises from the following:
(i) To feed growing population
(ii) To fight against any natural calamity
(iii) To reduce import of food grains
(iv) To control prices of food grains
4. The task of attaining self-sufficiency in food grains in future seems to be difficult. Give two reasons in support of this statement.
Ans: The task of attaining self-sufficiency in food grains in future seems to be difficult in India. It is because:
(i) There has been a gradual shift from cultivation of food crops to cultivation of fruits, vegetables, oil seeds and crops which act as industrial raw materials.
(ii) More and more land is being used for construction of factories, residential buildings, etc.
5. Mention two objectives of PDS.
Ans: Two Objectives of PDS:
(i) To provide essential goods at subsidized prices to the consumers.
(ii) To control prices of essential commodities.
6. Why is procurement of food grains done in India?
Ans: The government procures food grains at pre-announced prices to provide incentives to farmers for raising the production of crops. The food procured by the government is distributed among the poorer section of the society through fair price shops at subsidized prices.
7. Mention two reasons behind excessive buffer stocks of food grains.
Ans: Two Reasons for Excessive Buffer Stock:
(i) There has been increase in minimum support price.
(ii) The off take of food grains under PDS has been declining.
8. State two consequences of the excess reserves of food grains in India.
Ans: Two Consequences of Excessive Buffer Stock:
(i) It has raised economic costs i.e. cost incurring for procuring, storing and distribution of food grains.
(ii) It has adversely affected the food grain prices.
9. Mention two measures undertaken by the government to reduce the stock of food grains.
Ans: Measures to Reduce Buffer Stock:
(i) Open sale at prices much below the economic cost.
(ii) Increase in BPL allocation from 28 kg to 35 kg per month per family.
10. What is the Public Distribution System?
Ans: Public Distribution System
The Food Corporation of India procures food at pre-announced prices. The state governments distribute food grains to poor through ration shops at subsidized prices fixed by the government. This is called the Public Distribution System. There are about 4.6 lakh ration shops all over the country. Ration shops are also known as fair price shops.
11. How cooperatives are helpful in food security?
Ans: Role of cooperatives in providing food security:
In many parts of India, the cooperative societies set up their own cooperatives to supply food grains and different items at cheaper rates.
Following are the examples:
(i) In Tamil Nadu 94% of ration shops are run by cooperatives.
(ii) In Delhi, the Mother Dairy is supplying milk and milk products like butter, ghee etc. to the people at much subsidized rates.
(iii) In Gujarat, Amul is doing the same job of supplying milk and milk products to people at much cheaper rates. It is being run by cooperatives. It has brought 'White Revolution' in India.
12. Why is food security essential? How food security is affected during disaster?
Ans: Need of food security: The poorest section of the society might be food-insecure most of the times, while persons above poverty lines might also be food insecure when the country faces national disaster. Due to natural calamity, say drought, total production of food grain decreases. It creates a shortage of food in affected areas. Due to shortage of food, the prices go up. At higher prices, some people cannot buy food. So food security is essential.
13. State three dimensions of food security.
Ans: Three dimensions of food security:
(i) Availability of food: There should be enough stocks of food items in the country through good production, through imports or previous year's stock stored in government godowns.
(ii) Accessibility of food: Food should be within the reach of everybody.
(iii) Affordability of food: The prices of different food articles should be such that every individual is able to buy them. The food grain items should be within the reach of the people.
14. Why has Public Distribution System been criticized? Explain any three reasons.
Ans: (i) Market ineffectiveness of PDS: Average consumption of PDS grain at all India is only 1 kg per person per month. Average consumption figure in the states of Bihar,
Orissa and Uttar Pradesh is only 300 gms, while in states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu this figure is 3-4 kg per person per month. As a result, the poor has to depend on markets rather than ration shops.
(ii) With the introduction of three types of cards and three different prices for the same articles to the different people, the whole system of Public Distribution System has become much effective.
(iii) PDS dealer’s malpractices: The ration shop dealers resort to malpractices. They divert the grains to the open market to get a better margin.
15. What is the difference between chronic and seasonal hunger? Write any two.
Ans: Chronic Hunger: When diet is inadequate in terms of quantity or quality, it is called chronic hunger. Usually poor people suffer from chronic hunger because of their low income and as a result their inability to buy food even for their survival. This type of hunger is more or less of a permanent nature and presents throughout the year.
Seasonal Hunger: Seasonal hunger persists only during a particular period of the season. It is linked with the cycles of food growing and harvesting. In rural areas, the seasonal hunger is prevalent because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities. The gap between the sowing season and the reaping season is marked by seasonal hunger.
16. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity? Explain.
Ans: The people worst affected by food insecurity in India are landless labourers, traditional artisans, providers of traditional services and destitute including beggars. In the urban areas, the food insecure people are those whose working members are generally employed in ill-paid occupations and casual labour market. These workers are largely engaged in seasonal activities and are paid very low wages that just ensure bare survival.
17. Describe briefly the measures adopted to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains since Independence.
Ans: After Independence, Indian policy makers adopted all measures to achieve self-sufficiency in food grains. India adopted a new strategy in agriculture which resulted in Green Revolution especially in the production of wheat and rice.
18. What steps have been taken by the Government of India to provide food security to the poor? Explain any three.
Ans: To provide food security to the poor following steps have been taken by the Government of India:
(i) PDS: - Public Distribution System (PDS) was established for the distribution of food grains among the poor.
(ii)ICDS:-Integrated Child Development Services were launched in 1975 to ensure nutrition among children of backward area.
(iii) FFW: - ‘Food for work’ was introduced in 1977-78 to provide employment opportunities for the poor to ensure food security for them.
19. What is buffer stock? Why is it created by the government?
Ans. Buffer stock is the stock of food grains, namely wheat and rice procured by the government through Food Corporation of India (FCI). The FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers in states where there is surplus production. The farmers are paid a pre-announced price for their crops. Buffer stock is created to distribute food grains in deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at price lower than the market price. It is also used at the time of adverse weather conditions.
20. Why is buffer stock created by the government? Give any three reasons.
Ans: Buffer stock is created due to following reasons:
(i) To distribute food grains in deficit areas.
(ii) To distribute food grains among the poorer strata of society at prices lower than market price.
(iii) To resolve the problem of shortage of food during adverse weather conditions or during the periods of calamity.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS ON FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA
1. What is the difference between PDS and TPDS?
Ans: Difference between PDS and TPDS:
The food procured by the FCI is distributed through fair price shops among the poor.
This is called public distribution system. There was no discrimination between the poor and non poor under PDS. Under the TPDS, the government has announced separate issue prices for people below poverty line (BPL) and for above poverty line (APL) families. In December 2000, two special schemes were launched to make the TPDS more focused and targeted towards the poor. These were Antyodayo Anna Yojana (AAY) and the Annapurna Scheme (APS). The two schemes were linked with TPDS. Under the AAY, poor families were identified by the respective state rural development boards. Twenty-five kilograms of food grains were made available to each eligible family at highly subsidized rate of Rs 2 per kg for wheat and Rs 3 per kg for rice. This quantity has been raised from 25 to 35 kg with effect from April 2002.
2. Discuss the role of government in the stabilization of food grain prices.
Ans. Government's Measures to Stabilize food grain prices.
Our government has adopted the following measures to stabilize food grain prices:
(i) The government has often resorted to import of food grains whenever it became necessary.
For example, it entered into the PL 480 agreement with USA in 1956 to import food grain to face food crisis in the country.
(ii) It tries to maintain price stability through buffer stocks. It buys food grains during crop season when prices fall and sell them when prices tend to rise in times of shortage. Had the government not purchased the food grains, their prices might have fallen due to increased supply in the market. Similarly, in the times of shortage, when these food grains are supplied to the consumers at subsidized prices, their prices do not rise much.
3. Explain briefly the measures undertaken by the government to increase the production and supply of food grains.
Ans. Government's measures to increase the production and supply of food grains and main steps undertaken by the government in this regard are as follows:
(i) Land Reform Measures: Our government introduced several land reform measures soon after independence to increase domestic production of food grains. These measures included (a) abolition of intermediaries to transfer land to the actual tiller (b) tenancy reforms to regulate rents paid by the tenants to the landlords (c) imposition of ceiling on landholdings to procure surplus land for distribution among the landless.
(ii)Provision of Institutional Credit: To provide cheap and adequate agricultural finance many institutional credit agencies were set up. The expansion of institutional credit to farmers was made especially through cooperatives and commercial banks. As a result, the importance of village moneylenders, who used to exploit the farmers by charging high rates of interest, has drastically declined. Initially, only four percent of the total agricultural credit was advanced by cooperatives and commercial banks in 1950-51. Now their percentage share rose to 89 percent in 2004-05.
(iii) New Agricultural Strategy: New agricultural strategy was introduced which resulted in the Green Revolution, especially in the production of wheat and rice. Total production of food grain has increased from 50.8 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 212.0 million tonnes in 2003-04.
4. Explain the paradox of excess stocks of food grains and starvation.
Ans: Paradox of Excess Stocks and Starvation.
India has experienced a paradoxical situation in recent years. While the granaries of the government are overflowing with excess food grain stock, we also find people without food.
We, in India, find widespread hunger even when we have excess stock of food grains. The main reason for this unfortunate situation is that many poor families do not have enough purchasing power (i.e. money income) to buy food. Over one-fifth of the country’s population suffers from chronic hunger. They have to go to their beds with empty stomach. A good food security network, therefore, should not only ensure adequate physical availability of food but also increase the capabilities of the poor to buy food.
To tackle this unfortunate situation, our government has launched several special poverty alleviation programmes. These programmes aim at increasing income of the poor so as to enable them to buy food.
5. Point out the major defects of India’s food security system.
Ans: Defects of India’s Food Security System:
The major flaws/drawbacks of food security system in India are as follows:
(i) Limited Benefit to the Poor: The poor has not benefited much from the PDS. They have depended to a great extent on the open market for most of the commodities. Ration cards are issued only to those households who have proper residential addresses. Hence, a large number of homeless poor could not be covered under the PDS.
(ii) Leakages from PDS: Another defect of PDS relates to the problem of leakages of goods from PDS to open market. The shopkeepers who are running ration shops sell ration in the open market at higher prices instead of selling to ration card-holders at subsidized prices.
(iii) Increase in Prices: The PDS has also failed to protect the poor against price rise. There have been frequent increases in procurement and issue prices. Moreover, excessive buffer stocks of food grains have reduced its quantity available in the open market. This has also put an upward pressure on the market prices of food grains.
(iv) Rising Burden of Food Subsidy: PDS is highly subsidized in India. This has put a huge fiscal burden on the government. For example, food subsidy burden has risen from Rs 602 crore in 1980-81 to Rs 25,800 crore in 2003-04.
6. What are the major functions of the Food Corporation of India?
Ans: The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has the following major functions:
i) FCI purchases wheat and rice from the farmers in states where there is surplus production.
(ii) They announce Minimum Support Price (MSP) on which government buy the surplus from the farmers.
(iii) They keep the record and maintain the buffer stock.
7. Describe four main advantages of the Public Distribution System.
Ans: The main advantages of Public Distribution System are:
i) It is the most effective instrument of government policy over the years in stabilizing prices and making food available to consumers at affordable prices.
(ii) It averts widespread hunger and famine by supplying food from surplus regions of the country to the deficit ones.
(iii) It revises the prices of food grains in favour of poor household.
(iv) The declaration of minimum support price and procurement has contributed to an increase in food grains production and provided income security to farmers in certain regions.
8. How does PDS ensure food security in India? Explain.
Ans: PDS or public distribution system distribute the food grains by the help of ration shops among the poorer sections of the society. Presently there are 4.6 lakh ration shops all over the country. Ration shops also known as fair price shops who keep the stock of food grains, sugar and cooking kerosene oil. These items are sold to people at a price lower than the market price.
Any family with a ration card can buy a stipulated amount of these items (e.g. 35 kg of grains, 5 litres of kerosene, 5 kgs of sugar etc.) every month from the ration shop. PDS keeps on revising the prices in favour of urban poor.
9. What are the problems of the functioning of the ration shops? Describe any four of them.
Ans: The problems of the functioning of the ration shops are:
(i) Irregular opening of ration shops and selling poor quality grains at ration shops.
(ii) Massive unsold food grains that piles up at ration shops become a big problem for FCI.
(iii) A family even slightly above poverty line gets very little discounts at ration shop. The prices are almost as high as open market price.
(iv) The category of ration cards and range of prices do not exist now.
10. Describe in four points your awareness about National Food for Work Programme.
Ans: (i) National Food for Work Programme was launched on November 14, 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country.
(ii) The programme is open to all rural poor who are in need of wage employment and desire to do manual unskilled work.
(iii) It is a 100 percent centrally-sponsored scheme and the food grains are provided to states free of cost.
(iv) For year 2004-05, Rs 2020 crores have been allocated for the programme in addition to 20 lakh tonnes of food grains.
11. Explain how Green Revolution helped India to be self-sufficient in food grain production.
Ans: Green Revolution was a policy adopted by Indian policy makers for the growth in production of wheat and rice. HYV seeds were introduced and there was massive increase in production of wheat and rice. The increase in food grains was, however, disproportionate. The highest rate of growth was achieved in Punjab and Haryana, where food grain production jumped from 7.23mlion tonnes in 1964-65 to reach an all-time high of 30.33 million tonnes in 1995-96.
Production of rice was recorded to rise significantly in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
(Production of food grains in India)
(Source: Economic Survey 2004-05)
12. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related items.
Ans: Te cooperatives also play an important role in food security in India, especially in southern and western parts of the country.
(i) They set up shops to sell low price goods to poor people. For example, Mother Dairy in Delhi sells milk and vegetables to consumers at controlled rates decided by the Government of India.
(ii) Cooperatives like Academy of Development Science (ADS) has facilitated a network of NGOs for setting up grain banks. ADS works in Maharashtra. They also organise training and capacity building programmes on food security for NGOs. The ADS grain bank programme is acknowledged as a successful and innovative food security intervention.
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