Chapter - 4 Food Security in India

Chapter - 4 Food Security in India

What is Food Security?

• Availability of food – enough food for everyone.
• Accessibility of food – everyone can get it.
• Affordability of food – everyone can buy it.

Food security is important so that no one remains hungry, especially in times of natural calamities (like droughts, floods, or crop failures).

Why is Food Security Necessary?:- Due to a natural calamity, total production of foodgrains decrease. that's why we need food security.

• To prevent hunger and starvation.
• To ensure good health and nutrition.
• To support economic growth – healthy people work better.
• To avoid social unrest due to food shortages.

Famine:- A Famine is characterised by wide spread deaths due to starvation and epidemics. 

Famine of Bengal in 1943 was the most devastating famine occured in India.

Who are Food-Insecure People in India?

• Landless labourers
• Small farmers
• People in rural areas without job security
• Migrants and slum dwellers in cities
• Women, children, and the elderly in poor households

Measures Taken by the Government

Public Distribution System (PDS):

• Food grains (rice, wheat, sugar) are distributed through ration shops.
• Poor families get these at subsidized (cheap) rates.

Buffer Stock:

• Government stores extra food (mainly wheat and rice) in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns.
• Used during shortages or emergencies.

Food Security Act (2013):

• Legal right to food for up to 75% of rural and 50% of urban population.
• Provides 5 kg of food grains per person per month at low prices.

Other Programs:

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme (in schools)
• Antyodaya Anna Yojana (for the poorest)
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)

Problems with the PDS

• Leakage and black marketing
• Low quality of food grains
• Errors in identifying poor households
• Some people who need it are left out
• Irregular opening of the shops.

Green Revolution:- India adopted a new strategy in agriculture which resulted in 'Green Revolutin' especially in the production of wheat and rice.

Wheat Revolution:- To increase the production of Wheat, It introducd July 1968. After success of wheat was later replicated in rice.

Minimum Support Price:- It is the price at which the government promises to buy crops from farmers, even if market prices fall.

Issue Price:-  is the price at which the government sells food grains (like rice and wheat) to the poor through ration shops (PDS).

Ration shops (Fair Price Shops):- Government authorise shops in these shops sale essential goods in lower price. example:- Rice, wheat, Sugar, etc.

Role of Cooperatives

• Food cooperatives help distribute food in remote areas.
• Example: Amul in Gujarat (dairy), Mother Dairy in Delhi.
• Maharashtra, Scademy of Development Science(ADS):- organise training and capacity building programmes on food security for NGOs.

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Chapter - 3 Poverty as a Challenge

Chapter - 3 Poverty as a Challenge

Poverty –  A person is considered poor if they are unable to fulfill the basic needs of life – food, clothing, shelter, education, and health care.

Poverty is not just about income but also lack of access to services and opportunities.

Two case study from chapter shows following issues related to poverty :

• Landlessness
• Unemployement
• size of families
• Illiteracy
• Poor health/malnutrition
• Child labour
• Helplessness

Dimensions of Poverty

1. Income and Consumption :- Low income means people cannot afford basic necessities. Insufficient food, clothes, shelter. Example: People earning less than the poverty line.

2. Education :- Poor people often lack access to quality education. Leads to low skill levels → hard to get good jobs. Cycle of poverty continues from one generation to another.

3. Health and Nutrition :- Poor people suffer from malnutrition, diseases, and lack of medical care. Often live in unhygienic conditions. No access to hospitals, medicines, or clean drinking water.

4. Living Conditions :- Many poor people live in kutcha houses, slums, or crowded areas. No proper electricity, toilets, drainage system, or clean water. 

5. Job Security :- Most poor people work in the informal sector: - Daily wage laborers, street vendors, rickshaw pullers. They face unemployment, underemployment, or irregular work. No fixed income or job protection. 

6. Social Exclusion :- Some communities face poverty because of discrimination.  Based on caste, religion, gender, or region. Example: Dalits or tribal communities being denied opportunities. 

In India, it is based on calorie intake:

• Rural areas: 2400 calories/day
• Urban areas: 2100 calories/day
• It also considers monthly income:
• Example: ₹816/month in rural areas and ₹1000/month in urban areas (as per past data; this changes over time).

Causes of Poverty in India:

• Colonial rule (economic drain during British period)
• Unequal distribution of land and resources
• Unemployment
• Low level of education and skills
• Social factors like caste discrimination

Vulnerable Groups:

• Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs)
• Landless agricultural laborers
• Casual workers in urban areas
• Women, elderly, and children often suffer the most

Inter-State Disparities:

• Poverty is higher in states like Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh
• Better performance in Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana

Global Poverty Scenario: - Poverty is not limited to India; it is a global issue.

• South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest poverty rates.

Anti-Poverty Measures in India:

• Promotion of Economic Growth (especially since the 1980s)
• Targeted Anti-Poverty Programs, like:

MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) :- 
Introduced: In 2005 by the Government of India
Objective:

• To provide guaranteed wage employment to rural households and reduce rural poverty.
• Guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household whose adult members are willing to do unskilled manual work.
• If work is not provided within 15 days, the applicant is entitled to unemployment allowance.
•  Preference is given to women – at least one-third of the jobs are reserved for women.

Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana

Launched: In 1993 by the Government of India

Objective: - To provide self-employment opportunities to educated unemployed youth by helping them start small businesses or service ventures.

Rural Employment Generation Programme

Launched: In 1995 by the Government of India

Objective: - To generate employment opportunities in rural areas by helping people start small-scale village industries.

Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana

Launched: In 1999 by the Government of India

Objective:- To help poor families in rural areas become self-employed by organizing them into Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and supporting them with loans and training.

Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana

Launched: In 2000 by the Government of India

Objective:- To improve the quality of life in rural areas by providing basic services like housing, health, education, and clean drinking water.

AAY – Antyodaya Anna Yojana

Launched: In December 2000 by the Government of India

Objective:- To provide highly subsidized food to the poorest of the poor under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Why these programmes Didn’t Fully Succeed

1. Identification Problems

• Many truly poor families were left out, while some non-poor families got benefits.
• Corruption and favoritism in making BPL lists led to wrong targeting.

2. Poor Functioning of Fair Price Shops

• Ration shops often:
• Open irregularly
• Sell low-quality food grains
• Are involved in black marketing (selling ration in open market)

Challenges Ahead:

• Creating more employment
• Ensuring minimum basic needs for all
• Bridging the gap between rich and poor

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Chapter - 2 People as Resource

 Chapter - 2 People as Resource

1. What is Meant by 'People as Resource'?

• It refers to the working population (men and women) of a country in terms of their existing productive skills and abilities.
• The concept emphasizes investing in education, health, and skills to develop human capital.

2. Human Capital

• Definition: The knowledge and skills that people possess which help in producing goods and services.
• Importance: Just like physical capital (tools, machines), human capital also contributes to economic development.

Story of Sakal and Vilas

Sakal’s Life (Educated & Skilled)

• He was sent to school and later completed college.
• He received technical education in computers.
• After completing his studies, he got a good job in the city.
• He was skilled, healthy, and earning well.
• His education and skills made him a valuable human resource.

Vilas’s Life (Uneducated & Unskilled)

• His father was ill and died early.
• Vilas could not go to school and had to work at a very young age.
• He did not get proper education or training.
• He remained unskilled and could only do low-paying, unsteady jobs.
• He also suffered from poor health due to lack of awareness and facilities.

Conclusion of the Story:

• Investment in people (through education, health, and training) helps develop human capital.
• Sakal became a productive part of the economy.
• Vilas remained a burden due to lack of opportunities.
• This story shows the importance of education, skill development, and health care.

3. Economic Activities :-  Divided into two types:

a) Market Activities (Economic)

• Activities that result in remuneration (payment).
• Examples: Working in a factory, farming, shopkeeping.

b) Non-market Activities (Non-economic)

• Activities that do not earn money.
• Examples: Household work, caring for family members.

4. Types of Economic Activities

a) Primary Activities

• Direct use of natural resources.
• Example: Agriculture, fishing, mining.

b) Secondary Activities

• Processing of primary goods.
• Example: Manufacturing industries.

c) Tertiary Activities

• Providing services.
• Example: Teachers, doctors, transport.

Why Do Women Get Less Salary Than Men?

• 1. Lack of Education and Skills
• 2. Type of Work
• 3. Social Norms and Gender Discrimination
• 4. Less Participation in High-Paying Jobs
• 5. Double Burden

Why Are Household Chores Not Recognised in the National Income?

1. No Payment Involved

• Household chores like cooking, cleaning, taking care of children or elders do not involve any salary or wage.
• Since national income includes only paid work, these unpaid activities are not counted.

2. Non-Market Activity

3. Difficult to Measure

• It is very hard to put a money value on household work.
• There is no fixed rate or proper system to calculate its worth.

4. Traditional Thinking

• Society has traditionally undervalued the role of women and domestic work.

5. Quality of Population :- Depends on:

• Education
• Health
• Training A better quality population contributes more effectively to the economy.

6. Education

• Enhances literacy, skill, and efficiency.
• Reduces dependence on others and improves decision-making ability.
• Government schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan promote education.

7. Health

• A healthy person contributes more actively.
• Investments in health care = improved productivity.

8. Unemployment

• When people are willing to work at the prevailing wage but cannot find jobs.
• Types of Unemployment in India:
• Seasonal: Common in agriculture; workers are unemployed in off-seasons.
• Disguised: More people employed than necessary; common in rural India.

9. Consequences of Unemployment

• Wastage of human resources.
• Increased poverty and dependence.
• Hinders economic development.

How Does Unemployment Create Problems for a Nation?

1. Wastage of Human Resources

• When people who are willing to work do not get jobs, their talent and skills go to waste.
• It reduces the country’s ability to produce goods and services.

2. Increase in Poverty

• Unemployed people have no regular income.
• They cannot afford basic needs like food, clothes, education, and healthcare.
• This increases poverty in the country.

3. Social Problems

• Unemployment can lead to frustration, crime, drug abuse, and violence, especially among the youth.
• It creates instability in society.

4. Low Economic Growth

• Fewer people working means less production, less income, and less development.
• The nation’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) goes down.

5. Dependence on Others

• Unemployed people become dependent on family, friends, or government for help.
• This puts pressure on others and increases the government’s burden.

10. Women as Resource

• Women's participation in economic activities is often underreported.
• With education and opportunities, women contribute significantly to development.

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Chapter - 1 The Story of Village Palampur

Chapter - 1  The Story of Village Palampur

Introduction

• Palampur is a hypothetical village used to understand the basic concepts of production and economic activities in rural India.
• Main occupation: Farming (agriculture), but also includes small-scale manufacturing, dairy, transport, etc.

Factors of Production

• There are four key factors required for production:
• Land – natural resource
• Labour – people who work
• Physical Capital – tools, machines, buildings
• Fixed Capital: tools, machines
• Working Capital: raw materials, money
• Human Capital – knowledge and skills of people

Farming in Palampur

• Most people are engaged in farming.
• Farming is done using multiple cropping and modern farming methods.

Why Land is a Fixed Asset:

• It is a permanent resource used in production.
• It is not consumed or used up in the process of production.
• It stays in the business or economy for a long period of time.

Multiple Cropping: Grow more than one crop on a piece of land during the year is known as multiple cropping.

Common in Palampur (e.g., wheat, potato, sugarcane, etc.)

Will the Land Sustain? :-  Not always. Land is a natural resource, and it can be damaged or degraded if not used carefully.

Problems That Affect Sustainability:

• Overuse of Chemical Fertilizers :- Makes soil less fertile over time.
• Over-irrigation :- Causes waterlogging and salinity in the soil.
• Deforestation :- Leads to soil erosion and loss of fertility.
• Monocropping (growing same crop repeatedly) :- Reduces nutrients in the soil.

How to Make Land Sustainable:

• Use organic fertilizers and natural manure.
• Practice crop rotation and multiple cropping.
• Adopt soil conservation methods (like contour plowing).
• Efficient water management (like drip irrigation).

Modern Farming Methods:

• Use of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery (tractors, tube wells).
• Leads to higher yields, but can cause soil degradation and overuse of resources.

Land Distribution

• Unequal distribution: A few rich farmers own large portions, while most are small/marginal farmers.
• Small farmers often borrow money at high interest rates.

Who Will Provide Labour? :-  In a village like Palampur, labour is mostly provided by the people living in the village.

Types of Labour:

• Farmers and their family members
• Small farmers usually work themselves on their fields.
• They often can’t afford to hire others.

Hired labourers

• Landless labourers or poor villagers work on others’ land for wages (money or kind).
• Wages may be low and working conditions hard.

The Capital Needed in Farming

Capital refers to the money and physical goods needed to carry out farming activities. It is one of the four factors of production along with land, labour, and entrepreneurship.

Types of Capital in Farming:

1. Fixed Capital :- Used for a long period of time.

• Examples:- Tractors, Tubewells, Tools & machines, Buildings (storage, sheds)

2. Working Capital:-  Used up during the production process.

Needed every farming season.

Examples: - Seeds, Fertilizers & pesticides, Electricity, Water, Wages for hired labour.

Who Provides Capital?

• Large farmers use their own savings.
• Small farmers often take loans from:
• Moneylenders (with high interest)
• Banks or co-operatives (less interest)

Sale of Surplus Farm Products :- After the crops are harvested, farmers do two things:

1. Keep a part for themselves

• This is used for self-consumption (eating at home).
• Every farming family does this first.

2. Sell the Surplus

• The extra crop that is not needed for personal use is called surplus.
• This surplus is sold in the local market or nearby towns.

Who sells surplus? :- Large farmers:

• Produce more than they need → Sell a large surplus → Earn profit → Reinvest in farming (buy tools, seeds, etc.)

Small farmers:

• Often don’t have much surplus because their land is small.
• Some may even have to buy food if their harvest is not enough.

Non-Farming Activities in Palampur

• About 25% of the people are engaged in non-farming work:
• Dairy – selling milk in nearby towns.
• Small-scale manufacturing – at home or in small workshops.
• Shopkeeping – general stores, tea shops.
• Transport – rickshaws, tongas, trucks.

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