<–2/”>a >WHO Defines Food Security to exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
Food security has three interlinked contents such as :-
- Availability of food,
- Access to food and
- absorption of food.
Food security is a multidimensional concept covering even the micro level household food security,energy intakes and indicators of Malnutrition.
Major components of food security are:-
- Production and Procurement
- Storage
- Distribution
Indian agriculture is rightly called as a gamble with Monsoon, variability in food production and rising Population creates food insecurity in the nation and worst effected are the downtrodden section of the Society.
While India has seen impressive economic Growth in recent years, the country still struggles with widespread POVERTY and hunger. India’s poor population amounts to more than 300 million people, with almost 30 percent of India’s rural population living in poverty. The good news is, poverty has been on the decline in recent years. According to official government of India estimates, poverty declined from 37.2% in 2004-05 to 29.8% in 2009-10.
Need for Self-Sufficiency:
India suffered two very severe droughts in 1965 and 1966. Food Aid to India was restricted to a monthly basis by USA under the P.L. 480 programme. The Green Revolution made a significant change in the scene. India achieved self-sufficiency in food grains by the year 1976 through the implementation of the seed- water-fertilizer policy adopted by the Government of India.
Food grain production increased four-fold during 1950-51 and 2001-2002 from 51 million tons to 212 million tones. The country is no longer exposed to real famines. But the regional variation in the success of Green Revolution which was chiefly limited to northern- Western states has lead to the divide in the nation. Evergreen revoloution and Bringing green revolution to eastern India is the need of the hour.
Green revolution was focused on wheat and rice and thus the production of pulses was stagnant.
National Food Security Mission comprising rice, wheat and pulses to increase the production of rice by 10 million tons, wheat by 8 million tons and pulses by 2 million tons by the end of the Eleventh Plan (2011-12). The Mission is being continued during 12th Five Year Plan with new targets of additional production of food grains of 25 million tons of food grains comprising of 10 million tons rice, 8 million tons of wheat, 4 million tons of pulses and 3 million tons of coarse Cereals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) during the 12th Five Year Plan will have five components
(i) NFSM- Rice;
(ii) NFSM-Wheat;
(iii) NFSM-Pulses,
(iv) NFSM-Coarse cereals and
(v) NFSM-Commercial Crops.
Government through Public Distribution System has tried to counter the problem of food insecurity by providing the food grains through fair price shops.
The central Government through Food Corporation of India has assumed the responsibilities of procurement,storage,transfer and bulk allocation of food grains to state governments.
The public distribution system (PDS) has played an important role in attaining higher levels of the household food security and completely eliminating the threats of famines from the face of the country, it will be in the fitness of things that its evolution, working and efficacy are examined in some details.
PDS was initiated as a deliberate social policy of the government with the objectives of:
i) Providing foodgrains and other essential items to vulnerable sections of the society at resonable (subsidised) prices;
ii) to have a moderating influence on the open market prices of cereals, the distribution of which constitutes a fairly big share of the total marketable surplus; and
iii) to attempt socialisation in the matter of distribution of essential commodities.
The focus of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is on “poor in all areas” and TPDS involves issue of 35 Kg of food grains per family per month for the population Below Poverty Line (BPL) at specially subsidized prices. The TPDS requires the states to Formulate and implement :-
- foolproof arrangements for identification of poor,
- Effective delivery of food grains to Fair Price Shops (FPSs)
- Its distribution in a transparent and accountable manner at the FPS level.
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Food security is a state in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
The public distribution system (PDS) is a system of food distribution in India that was established in 1952. The PDS is a major instrument of the government’s food security policy and is designed to provide foodgrains at subsidized prices to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population.
The targeted public distribution system (TPDS) is a modified version of the PDS that was introduced in 1997. The TPDS is targeted at the poorest households in the country and provides them with foodgrains at a highly subsidized price.
The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) is a food security program that was launched in 2005. The AAY is a sub-scheme of the TPDS and is designed to provide foodgrains at a highly subsidized price to the poorest of the poor households in the country.
The National Food Security Act (NFSA) is a food security law that was enacted in 2013. The NFSA guarantees foodgrains at subsidized prices to all households below the poverty line (BPL) in the country.
The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) is a food security program that was launched in 2020. The PMGKAY is a temporary measure that was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The PMGKAY provides free foodgrains to all households below the poverty line (BPL) in the country.
One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) is a scheme that was launched in 2019. The ONORC scheme allows beneficiaries of the PDS to access foodgrains from any ration shop in the country.
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is a state-owned corporation that is responsible for the procurement, storage, and distribution of foodgrains in India.
The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) is a state-owned corporation that is responsible for the storage of foodgrains in India.
The Food and Civil Supplies Department (FCSD) is a State Government department that is responsible for the implementation of the PDS in the states.
The State Food Commission (SFC) is a state government body that is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the PDS in the states.
The Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry (CA&PD Ministry) is a central government ministry that is responsible for the implementation of the PDS at the national level.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for promoting food security and Nutrition for all.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is a United Nations agency that provides food assistance to people in need in over 80 countries.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger.
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is a public-private PARTNERSHIP that works to improve nutrition for millions of people around the world.
The PDS is a vital part of India’s food security system. The PDS provides foodgrains at subsidized prices to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population. The PDS has been successful in reducing hunger and malnutrition in India. However, the PDS has also been criticized for its inefficiencies and leakages. The government is taking steps to improve the efficiency of the PDS and to reduce leakages. The PDS is a complex system that is essential for India’s food security. The PDS has been successful in reducing hunger and malnutrition in India. However, the PDS has also been criticized for its inefficiencies and leakages. The government is taking steps to improve the efficiency of the PDS and to reduce leakages.
What is the difference between a public distribution system and a food security system?
A public distribution system (PDS) is a government program that provides food to low-income people. A food security system is a broader concept that includes both PDS and other programs that aim to ensure that everyone has access to enough food.
What are the benefits of a public distribution system?
PDS can help to reduce hunger and malnutrition, especially in low-income countries. It can also help to stabilize food prices and protect farmers from price fluctuations.
What are the drawbacks of a public distribution system?
PDS can be expensive to operate. It can also be inefficient, with a lot of food being wasted or diverted to the black market.
What are some alternative approaches to food security?
One alternative approach is to provide cash transfers to low-income people. This can allow them to buy food on the open market, which can be more efficient than PDS. Another alternative is to invest in agriculture, which can help to increase food production and reduce prices.
What is the role of the government in food security?
The government has a role to play in food security by providing PDS and other programs. It can also regulate the food market and invest in agriculture.
What are the challenges to food security?
The main challenges to food security are poverty, Climate change, and conflict. Poverty can make it difficult for people to afford food. Climate Change can lead to droughts and floods, which can damage crops and reduce food production. Conflict can disrupt food production and distribution.
What is being done to address the challenges to food security?
There are a number of things being done to address the challenges to food security. These include:
- Increasing agricultural productivity
- Improving access to food for the poor
- Investing in climate change adaptation
- Reducing conflict
What is the future of food security?
The future of food security is uncertain. The challenges to food security are likely to continue, but there are also a number of opportunities to improve food security. These include:
- Investing in agriculture
- Improving access to food for the poor
- Investing in climate change adaptation
- Reducing conflict
Here are some MCQs on the topics of Food Security and Public Distribution System (PDS):
Which of the following is not a goal of food security?
(A) To ensure that all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.
(B) To reduce hunger and malnutrition.
(C) To promote Sustainable Agriculture.
(D) To increase food production.Which of the following is not a component of the Public Distribution System (PDS)?
(A) The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
(B) The Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS).
(C) The Fair Price Shops (FPS).
(D) The Food Corporation of India (FCI).The PDS was introduced in India in the year:
(A) 1947.
(B) 1951.
(C) 1965.
(D) 1975.The PDS is a system of:
(A) Subsidized food distribution.
(B) Universal food distribution.
(C) Targeted food distribution.
(D) None of the above.The TPDS is a system of:
(A) Subsidized food distribution to the poor.
(B) Universal food distribution to the poor.
(C) Targeted food distribution to the poor.
(D) None of the above.The OMSS is a system of:
(A) Selling food grains at a subsidized price to the public.
(B) Selling food grains at a Market Price to the public.
(C) Selling food grains at a rationed price to the public.
(D) None of the above.The FPS are:
(A) Government-run shops that sell food grains at a subsidized price to the public.
(B) Privately-run shops that sell food grains at a market price to the public.
(C) Cooperative shops that sell food grains at a rationed price to the public.
(D) None of the above.The FCI is:
(A) A government-run corporation that procures, stores, and distributes food grains.
(B) A private corporation that procures, stores, and distributes food grains.
(C) A cooperative that procures, stores, and distributes food grains.
(D) None of the above.The PDS has been criticized for being:
(A) Inefficient.
(B) Corrupt.
(C) Ineffective.
(D) All of the above.The PDS has also been praised for being:
(A) A safety net for the poor.
(B) A way to ensure food security.
(C) A way to stabilize food prices.
(D) All of the above.
I hope these MCQs were helpful. Please let me know if you have any other questions.