Who among the following Indian thinkers first spoke of food-for-work p

Who among the following Indian thinkers first spoke of food-for-work programmes to counteract the effects of famines ?

Kautilya
Aryabhatta
Chandragomin
Prabhakara
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2022
The correct answer is A) Kautilya.
Kautilya, in his ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy called the Arthashastra, discusses various measures a ruler should take during times of famine. These measures include state distribution of grains, provision of food from the ruler’s own stores, and also providing work (such as building forts or roads) to people in exchange for food or subsistence, which is an early form of the ‘food-for-work’ concept.
The Arthashastra is believed to have been written around the 4th century BCE. Aryabhatta was a renowned mathematician and astronomer (5th-6th century CE). Chandragomin was a Buddhist scholar and grammarian (likely 7th century CE). Prabhakara was a philosopher of the Mimamsa school (7th century CE). None of the latter three are primarily known for contributions to economic or administrative policies related to famine relief as extensively as Kautilya.
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