Important Points

  • In which year the most devastating Bengal famine occur? -1930
  • Yellow card is issued to- People below poverty line 
  •  Full form of F.C.I. – Food Corporation of India 
  • PDS – Public distribution system
  • MSP – Minimum Support Price
  • Food for work scheme was launched in which of the following year- 2004
  • The price that is announced before the sowing season is called – Minimum support price
  • Three dimensions of food security – Availabity, Accessablity, Affordability
  • Amul dairy is situated in Gujrat
  • BPL card is issued to poorest among the BPL families who are identified by state rural development departments.
  • Some cooperative sociteis in Inida – Mother Diary  Delhi, Amul  Gujarat, Verka  Punjab, Saras  Rajasthan

Questions & Answers

  1. What is food security?
    Ans. Food security means availability, accessibility and affordability of food to all people at all times.

2. Name the two dimensions of hunger.

Ans. The two dimensions of hunger are: 1. Seasonal hunger 2. Chronic hunger

3. What is the main function of FCI?

Answer: Food Corporation of India purchases wheat and rice from farmers in states where there is surplus production for central and state governments.

4. What are the two special schemes launched in year 2000 by Government of India to ensure food security?

Answer: In year 2000, two special schemes launched by Government of India to ensure food security are: 1. Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) , 2. Annapurna Scheme (APS)

5. Write a short note on “The National Food Security Act, 2013.

Answer: The National Food Security Act, 2013 provides for food and nutritional security life at affordable prices and enables people to live a life with dignity. 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population has been categorised as eligible households for food security.

6. What are cooperative societies?

Answer: It is an autonomous association voluntarily owned and managed for the benefit of customers or workers.

7. Why is food security essential? On what factors food security depend?

Answer: The poor households are more vulnerable to food insecurity whenever there is a problem of production or distribution of food crop.

The persons above the poverty lines might also be food insecure when the country faces a natural calamity. Therefore, food security is needed in a country to ensure food at all times.

8. Explain the role of Public Distribution System in food security. Or How PDS does ensure food security in India?

Answer: The food procured by the FCI is distributed through government regulated ration shops among the poorer sections of the society. This is called Public Distribution System (PDS). Ration shops are now present in most localities, villages, towns and cities. There exist 5.5 lakh ration shops all over the country. Ration shops keep stock of food grains, sugar, kerosene oil for cooking, these shops are also known as fair price shops. 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 from the nearby ration shop.

9. Mention some features of PDS.

Answer: The main features of Public Distribution System in India are given below:

  • It is the most effective instrument of government policy in stabilising prices and making food available to consumers at affordable prices.
  • It prevents widespread hunger and famine by supplying food from surplus regions of the country to the deficit ones.
  • The prices are revised in favour of poor households.
  • It has increased the food grain production and provided income security to farmers in certain regions.

10. Explain two dimensions of hunger.

Answer: (i) Chronic hunger It is a consequence of continuously inadequate diet in terms of quantity or quality. Poor people suffer from chronic hunger because of low income and inability to buy food.

(ii) Seasonal hunger This type of hunger exists when a person is unable to get ‘ work for the entire year. It is related to cycles of food growing and harvesting. This is prevalent in rural areas because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities and in urban areas because of the casual labour.

11. What do you understand by the different dimensions of food security?

    Answer: There are three dimensions of food security:

    Availability of food means food production within the country, food imports and the previous years stock stored in government granaries.

    Accessibility means food is within reach of every person.

    Affordability implies that an individual has enough money to get sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.

    12. While mentioning the complaints of ration shops operating in the public distribution system, suggest remedies for redressal.

      Answer: Complaints of ration shops

      Following are the major complaints of ration shops operating in the public distribution system

      A. PDS dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like diverting the grains to open market to get better margin.

      B. They sell good grains of ration at a higher price in the open market and sell inferior grains to shops.

      C. They do not open shops regularly, weighing less.

      D. Currently three types of ration cards are issued and differentiated price policy is adopted for all three types of ration cards and price for APL family is almost as high as open market price, so there is little incentive for them to buy these items from the ration shop. Therefore, these people are discouraged to buy goods from ration shops.

      Measures to remove complaints

      • Cooperatives are playing an important role in food security in the southernwestern parts of India. They open lowcost shops to sell food grains to poor people. This system should be run all over the country.
      • Grain banks should be established in other areas on the lines of Maharashtra through nongovernmental organizations.
      • Ration shops whose complaints come should be investigated and strict action should be taken.

      13. What is Buffer stock?

        Answer: The stock of foodgrains, namely rice and wheat, procured by the Government through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is known as the Buffer Stock. The purchased food grains are stored in granaries.