Food Security in India - Overview

Ahmad's survival depends on his daily earnings from pulling a rickshaw.

The yellow card allows Ahmad to access essential food items at half the market price.

Ahmad faces an insecure employment situation with fluctuating daily earnings.

<p>Pregnant and nursing mothers, along with children under the age of 5, are notably food insecure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are two regions with a significant number of food insecure individuals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hunger is indicated as an expression of poverty and also exacerbates food insecurity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ahmad's family consists of himself, three brothers, two sisters, and old parents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The NHFS 1998–99 provides statistics on the number of food insecure mothers and children in the country.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ramu is unemployed for about four months due to the seasonal nature of agricultural work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When unemployed, Ramu struggles to find work and his family often experiences food shortages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ramu's family members, including possibly children or other relatives, may supplement his income.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ramu faces difficulty because he cannot afford essentials, leading to food insecurity for his family.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ramu is food insecure during the four months when he remains unemployed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The worst affected groups include landless people, traditional artisans, self-employed workers, and destitutes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Social composition, including caste and lack of land, contributes to limited access to resources and employment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Food insecure families often lack regular access to milk and vegetables, leading to nutritional deficiencies.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Amartya Sen emphasized 'access' to food through 'entitlements', highlighting that food security involves not just availability but also the means to obtain food.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The three main dimensions of food security are availability, accessibility, and affordability of food.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The PDS helps ensure food security by distributing food grains to the poor and vulnerable sections of society at subsidized rates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Food security requires physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food at individual, household, regional, national, and global levels.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Availability' refers to the presence of food production within a country, as well as food imports and stored stocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Poverty eradication is essential to improve access to food, as it directly affects individuals' ability to afford and obtain sufficient nutritious food.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Entitlements' refer to the combination of resources an individual can access through production, market exchanges, or social programs to secure food.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Government vigilance is important to ensure effective monitoring and action in the distribution and accessibility of food, particularly during crises.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary goal of the PDS is to stabilize prices and ensure food availability at affordable prices to consumers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>AAY, launched in December 2000, targets the poorest among Below Poverty Line families to provide them with subsidized food grains.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Initially, 25 kilograms of foodgrains were made available to each eligible family at subsidized rates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The PDS has faced criticism for instances of hunger persisting despite overflowing granaries and issues like grain rotting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The minimum support price has contributed to an increase in foodgrain production and provided income security to farmers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>After the expansions, a total of 2 crore families were covered under the AAY.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p><code>2 per kg for wheat and </code>3 per kg for rice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Poor families were identified through a Below Poverty Line (BPL) survey conducted by state rural development departments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The TPDS adopted the principle of targeting the 'poor in all areas'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main objective of the PDS was to ensure food security for the population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Antyodaya Anna Yojana was launched in 2002.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The AAY scheme provides 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The RPDS targeted backward blocks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The issue price for Wheat under TPDS for BPL households is Rs 4.15 per kg.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The AAY focuses on the poorest of the poor, while the APS targets indigent senior citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The National Food Security Act was introduced in 2013.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Under the NFSA, 5 kg of foodgrains per person per month is allotted.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The issue price for Rice under the AAY scheme is Rs 3.00 per kg.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two primary components are buffer stock and the public distribution system (PDS).</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Landless or land poor households in rural areas and casual laborers engaged in seasonal activities in urban areas are most affected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Economically backward states with a high incidence of poverty are more food insecure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the Mid-Day Meals scheme are two key initiatives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The government creates buffer stock to stabilize prices and ensure food availability during shortages.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Natural disasters often disrupt food supply chains, leading to shortages and increased food insecurity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Seasonal hunger is temporary and linked to specific times of the year, while chronic hunger is a long-term condition due to inadequate food intake.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cooperatives provide access to food and related items, improving the distribution and availability of resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers