30 Questions
What are the three kinds of ration cards mentioned in the text?
Antyodaya cards, BPL cards, APL cards
When was the rationing system introduced in India?
1940s
Name three food intervention programmes introduced in India in the mid-1970s.
Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Food-for-Work (FFW)
What are the suggested activities related to visiting a ration shop?
- When does the ration shop open? 2. What items are sold at the ration shop? 3. Compare prices with other grocery shops. 4. Find out if you have a ration card and what has been purchased.
Why were ration shops necessary in India?
Due to high poverty levels
What triggered the revival of the rationing system in India during the 1960s?
Acute food shortage
What is the main objective of The National Food Security Act, 2013?
The main objective is to provide food and nutritional security at affordable prices.
Who has been categorised as eligible households for food security under The National Food Security Act, 2013?
75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population.
What is the significance of the Public Distribution System (PDS)?
PDS is a crucial step towards ensuring food security.
How do employment programmes contribute to food security?
Employment programmes contribute to food security by increasing the income of the poor.
Name some Poverty Alleviation Programmes (PAPs) mentioned in the text.
Mid-day meals, Integrated Child Development Services, Rural wage employment programme, Employment Guarantee Scheme, Sampurna Grameen Rojgar Yojana.
What is the coverage of the Public Distribution System (PDS) initially?
In the beginning, the coverage of PDS was universal with no discrimination between the poor and the non-poor.
What has the Public Distribution System (PDS) been effective in achieving over the years?
Stabilising prices and making food available to consumers at affordable prices
How has the PDS contributed to an increase in foodgrain production?
By providing income security to farmers in certain regions
Despite overflowing granaries, what issue has the Public Distribution System (PDS) faced?
Instances of hunger are prevalent
What is the purpose of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme launched in December 2000?
Identifying and providing support to the poorest among the BPL families
How were poor families identified for the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) scheme?
By the respective state rural development departments through a Below Poverty Line (BPL) survey
What does Graph 4.2 show regarding foodgrain stocks in the Central pool and its stocking norms?
Difference in foodgrain stocks
What are the negative consequences of storing massive food stocks?
High carrying costs, wastage, and deterioration in grain quality
Which states in India have exerted pressure for increased food grain procurement at enhanced MSP?
Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh
Why has the increase in MSP led farmers in surplus states to shift from producing coarse grains to rice and wheat?
Increase in MSP induced farmers to shift to rice and wheat production
What negative impact has the intensive cultivation of rice had on the environment in certain states?
Environmental degradation and fall in water level
What factors have contributed to the rise in maintenance costs of procuring foodgrains by the government?
Rising Minimum Support Prices (MSP), transportation, and storage costs
According to the NSSO report, how has the per person per month food consumption in rural India changed from 2004-05 to 2011-12?
Declined from 6.38 Kg to 5.98 Kg
What role do cooperatives and NGOs play in ensuring food security in addition to the government?
They also work intensively towards ensuring food security.
Who are the people more prone to food insecurity?
The poor and vulnerable populations.
What happens to the supply of food during a disaster or calamity?
The supply of food is disrupted.
Differentiate between seasonal hunger and chronic hunger.
Seasonal hunger occurs at specific times of the year, while chronic hunger is persistent.
Why does the government create buffer stock?
To stabilize prices and ensure food security.
Discuss two schemes launched by the government to provide food security to the poor.
Examples include the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Midday Meal Scheme.
Study Notes
Ration Cards and Rationing System
- Three kinds of ration cards: Above Poverty Line (APL), Below Poverty Line (BPL), and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
- Rationing system introduced in India during World War II
Food Intervention Programmes
- Three food intervention programmes introduced in India in the mid-1970s: Food Subsidy, Public Distribution System (PDS), and Food-for-Work Programme
Ration Shops and Food Security
- Ration shops were necessary in India to ensure fair distribution of essential commodities during times of scarcity
- Suggested activities related to visiting a ration shop: observing the availability of commodities, interaction with shop owners, and understanding the distribution process
The National Food Security Act, 2013
- Main objective: to ensure food security for the citizens of India
- Eligible households for food security: 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population
Public Distribution System (PDS)
- Significance: provides food security to the poor and vulnerable sections of society
- Initially covered 360 million people
- Effective in achieving food security and reducing hunger
- Contributed to an increase in foodgrain production by providing a guaranteed market for farmers
- Faced issues of overflowing granaries and storage problems
Poverty Alleviation Programmes (PAPs)
- Some PAPs mentioned in the text: Food-for-Work Programme, Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, and Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana
Employment Programmes and Food Security
- Employment programmes contribute to food security by providing income and increasing purchasing power
Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY)
- Purpose: to provide subsidies to the poorest of the poor families
- Poor families identified based on the criteria of deprivation, poverty, and vulnerability
Foodgrain Stocks and Procurement
- Graph 4.2 shows the foodgrain stocks in the Central pool and its stocking norms
- Storing massive food stocks leads to negative consequences like storage costs, wastage, and decay
- States like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have exerted pressure for increased food grain procurement at enhanced Minimum Support Price (MSP)
Impact of Food Grain Procurement
- Increase in MSP led farmers in surplus states to shift from producing coarse grains to rice and wheat
- Intensive cultivation of rice has had a negative impact on the environment in certain states
Factors Affecting Food Security
- Rise in maintenance costs of procuring foodgrains by the government due to factors like transportation, storage, and handling
- Per person per month food consumption in rural India decreased from 2004-05 to 2011-12 according to the NSSO report
Role of Cooperatives and NGOs
- Cooperatives and NGOs play a crucial role in ensuring food security in addition to the government by providing supplementary food and nutrition
Food Insecurity
- People more prone to food insecurity: the poor, women, children, and the elderly
- Supply of food during a disaster or calamity is affected, leading to scarcity and hunger
Types of Hunger
- Seasonal hunger: occurs during periods of crop failure or natural disasters
- Chronic hunger: a persistent state of hunger and malnutrition
Buffer Stock
- Government creates buffer stock to ensure food availability during times of scarcity and to stabilize prices
Schemes for Food Security
- Two schemes launched by the government to provide food security to the poor: Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and National Food Security Act, 2013
Explore important features and effectiveness of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in stabilizing prices and making food available to consumers. Learn how PDS helps in averting hunger and famine by supplying food from surplus to deficit regions.
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