and they do migrate to cities in search of jobs and end up as Rickshaw Pullers or casual

labourers.
Q.2. What are the reasons for the ineffectiveness of poverty alleviation programmes?
Ans. () One of the major reasons for less effectiveness is the lack of proper implementation and

right targeting.
(i) Moreover, there has been a lot of overlapping of schemes.
(ii) Despite good intentions, the benefits of these schemes do not reach the deserving poor

completely.
iv) Therefore, the major emphasis in recent years is on proper monitoring of all the poverty

alleviation programmes.
Q.3. Why poverty still remains a challenge for the Indian government?
Ans. ) Though poverty has declined in India, but despite the progress, poverty reduction remains

India's most compelling challenge.

() Wide disparities in poverty are visible between rural and urban areas and among different

states.
(ii) Certain Social and Economic groups are more vulnerable to poverty.
(iv) Poverty reduction is expected to make better progress in the next ten to fifteen years.
(v) This would be possible mainly due to higher economic growth, increasing stress on universal
free elementary education, declining population growth, increasing empowerment of the
women and the economically weaker sections of the society.

NCERT Corner
Answers to NCERT Questions

Q.1. Describe how the poverty line is estimated in India?

Ans. The poverty line is estimated based on consumption levels in India. A person has basic needs
which include minimum level of food, clothing, educational and medical needs, etc. These
minimum consumptions are then calculated in Rupees and total become the minimum income

to fulfil basic needs. A person is considered poor if their income level falls below the
required
minimum level necessary to fulfil basic needs.
Q.2. Do you think that present methodology of poverty estimation is appropriate?
level ot
Ans. The present methodology is not appropriate. It calculates the minimum subsistence
decent life with
living. It does not take into calculation whether the person has a reasonable or
access to education, home, clean drinking water, etc. The cost of basic needs also varies among
places so a common poverty line cannot be appropriate.

Q.3. Describe poverty trends in India since 1973.

Ans. There has been a decline in poverty in India. The percentage of people living under poverty
to about
declined from 1973 to 1993 to 45%. This further declined to 37.2% in 2004-05 and
to
2004-05
21.9% in 2011-12. The number of the poor has declined from 40.71 crore people in
26.93 crore people in 2011-12.

Q.4. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India.

Ans. The major reasons for poverty in India are:
(i) There was low level ofeconomic development under the British colonial administration. In
colonial government destroyed Indian industries and there was no form of develop
and when India gained its independence, there were large number of people in pover
led
(ii) India experienced high growth rate of population and the low economic growth. In

Science-IX
388 Xam idea Social
 to a larger population but with lower employment opportunities. This further restr

antt-poverty measures and

large parts of the population remained in
povery
11)
There has been unequal distribution of wealth in India. Certain castes and classes domna d
land
which led to large number of groups who had no access to inherited wealth. Tnis
caused a spiral of
poverty whereby their future continued to remain in povery
Q.5. Identity the social and economic groups which are generation
most vulnerable to poverty in India.
ns. Social groups that are vulnerable to poverty are scheduled caste and scheduled tribe.
(1) These
groups have been historically
resources such as forests marginalized as being landless and had their claims on
being contested.
(111) Orban poors, who have
migrated from rural areas to urban areas in search of jobs and
improved standard of living are vulnerable to
therefore cannot afford basic poverty if they are unable to find a job and
necesities. The rural also if unable to find work are
poor
vulnerable to poverty.
o.6. Give an account of interstate
disparities of poverty in India.
Ans. G) There is difference among the
(1i) Estimates show that
proportion of poor people in States.
average India HCR was 21.9% in 2011-12 but States like Bihar and
Orissa are the two
poorest states with poverty ratios of 33.7% and 37.6%
11) n respectively.
comparison,
there has been a
significant decline in poverty in Kerala, Jammu and
Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
These States have used
Gujarat and West Bengal.
(iv) agricultural growth and Human Capital growth to reduce poverty.
O.7. Describe global poverty trends.
Ans. (i) The proportion of people in
developing countries living in extreme economic poverty has
fallen from 43% in 1990 to 22% in 2008.
(ii) There are disparities in poverty among the regions around
the world. Number of the
in China has poor
down from 85% in 1981 to 6% in 2011.
come

(ii) In Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty declined from 51% in 1981 to 47% in 2008.
(iv) In Latin America, the ratio
of poverty has declined from 11% in 1981 to 6.4
per cent in
2008.
Q.8. Describe current government strategy of poverty alleviation.
Ans. The government's anti-poverty strategy is based on:
(i) Promotion of economic growth: Economic growth gives opportunities of job creation
within the country which provides stable livelihood to people and thereby reducing the
number of people under poverty. It also provides the resources such as investment needed
for human development such as in education, medical facilities, transportation, etc. which
further allows growth and creation of jobs.
(ii) Targeted anti-poverty programmes: The government launches programmes designed foor

certain groups to help them grow out trom poverty. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 provides lO0 days of wage employment in rural areas,
Silary Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) Creates self-employment opportunities for
rural areas and small towns. Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana assists poor families
above the poverty line by organising them into selt-help groups. Under the Pradhan Mantri
Gramodaya Yojana, assistance is given to states tor basic services such as primary health.
primary education, rural shelter, rural drinking water and rural electrification.
Q.9. Answer the following questions briefly:
) What do you understand by human poverty?

Economics 389
 Ans. Human poverty refers to the lack of essential human necessities such as literacy, healthcare
and a basic standard of living. These attributes cannot be measured by a minimum income
the individual and the state in which he resides.
level and require the study of both,
(ii) Who are the poorest of the poor?
are considered
Ans. Poor women, children, especially the girl child and the poor elderly people
the poorest of the poor.
What the main features of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005
(iii) are

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 aims to provide 100
Ans.
e n s u r e s a regular wage in rural
areas
to household. 'This
days of wage employment every
have been reserved for
and promotes sustainable development. 1/3 of the proposed jobs
has increased from ? 65 in 2006-07 to 7 132
in 2013-14.
w o m e n . The average wage

Source-based Question
the questions that follow:
given below and answer

Read the sources is the low

poverty in India. One historical reason
c a u s e s for the widespread
There w e r e a number of of the colonia
the British colonial administration. The policies
under 1he
level of economic
development of industries like textiles.
and discouraged development
ruined traditional handicrafts
'This resulted in less job
opportunities and loW
government
persisted until the nineteeneighties. The two combine
low rate of growth a high growth
rate of population. o

This was accompanied by fronts: promotion

incomes. low. The failure at both
the
growth rate of income very
rate of per capita poverty.
to make the growth n t r o l nerpetuated the cycle of anted in the
HOTS THigher Order ThinkingSkills]
Q.1. Why is there a need of food security in India?
Ans. Food security is needed as
when the
(i) The poorest section of the society might be food insecure country faces a natie.

disaster/calamity like earthquake, drought, flood, tsunami, widespread failures

ilures of
of
crops
causing famines, etc
decreases.
(1i) Due to a natural calamity, total production of food grains
ii) It creates a shortage of food in the affected areas.
(iv) Due to shortage of food, the prices go up.
(V) At the high prices, some people cannot afford to buy food.
Q.2. How does seasonal unemployment affect the food security?
Ans. ) Seasonal unemployment is when a person is unemployed for a particular season of the

year.
(i) Mostly this is prevalent in rural areas because of the seasonal nature of the agricultural
activities.
i ) In urban areas, casual construction labourers have less work, especialy during the rainy
season.

iv) Seasonal hunger exists when a person is unable to get work for the entire year.

NCERT Corner
Answers to NCERT Questions
Q. 1. How is food security ensured in India?
Ans. Food security is ensured in India by having the availability of food to all sections of the society.
The Indian government has formed initiatives of buffer stock and public distribution system.
The government has also started various poverty alleviation programmes such as Integrated
Child Development Services, Mid-Day Meals, Antyodaya Anna Yojana, etc.
Q.2. Which are the people more prone to food insecurity?
Ans. Access to food largely depends on access to money. The people or groups most prone to food
insecurity are landless people, traditional artisans, and beggars as they work for low wages and
are prone to long-term unemployment also. People who are prone to natural disasters such as
continuous droughts or floods are also prone to food insecurity.
Q.3. Which states are more food insecure in India?
Ans. T h e food insecure people are largely in economically backward states with high proportuon or

poverty, tribal and remote areas, and regions more prone to natural disasters, etc. Eastern par
of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, Chhattisgarh, parts of Madhya Pradesin
I Maharashtra account for the largest number of food insecure people in the country.
Q.4. Do you believe that Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains? How:
Own

Ans. Yes, Green Revolution has made India self-sufficient in food grains. Crops are now gro
throughout the year which allows India to have buffer stocks. There has been no incidence
famine in India even during bad seasons.
Q.5. "A section of people in India are still without food". Explain.
ab
Ans. There exists a problem of food distribution in India. India has buffer stocks such as in ruho
but due to problems of infrastructure and transportation, these stocks do not reach thos

406xam idea Social Science-IX

 need them such
as in
grains
of
but the
people Jharkhand.
have no There is also
quality and money poverty where
other essential proper diet where
nutrition.
to buy
them or store and there might be availability 1o0a
people may not cook them. is otThere also
0.6. What have
happens to the
access to food which is rich in absenCe
protein or
Ans. The total supply of food when there
shortage ofproduction of is a
disaster or a
food grain
Some
food in the
affected decreases when there is a calamity?
people cannot afford to natural
the cost of food to calamity.
areas and this causes It
due to
damage buy food. The rise. At the highcreates a

area of
to
transportation supply of food
grain from other areas is prices
population infrastructure
calamity happens restrict
in a
O.7. Differentiate
or is
stretched over a longer calamity. If such
between time period, it may cause in a large
Ans. Chronic seasonal hunger and a of situation famine.
hunger is a result of having food chronic hunger?
quality. people suffer from chronic continuously that is inadequate in terms of
Poor
inability to buy food or quality food.hunger because of their very low income andquantity
their or

theretore
Seasonal hunger is
seasonal nature of
related to cycles of food growing and
harvesting in rural areas because of the
urban areas, this is agricultural activities leads to seasonal work and seasonal income.
because of While in
Q. 8. What has our irregular income through casual labour.
government done to provide food security to the
launched by the
government? poor? Discuss any two schemes
Ans. The schemes launched by
two
government are: gsi A
(i) Public Distribution System: It is a sut
system that distributes subsidised basic commodities to
poor households through fair price shops
(i)
nationwide
Antyodaya Anna Yojana: 1 crore of
the poorest among those who are below the poverty
line families are covered under the
targeted public distribution system. 35kg of food grains
were made available to each eligible
family at a highly subsidised rate.
9. Why is buffer stock created by the government?
ns. Buffer stock is created by the government to distribute food grains in the deficit areas and
among the poorer sections of society at a price lower than the market price. This also helps in
solving the problem of shortage of food during bad harvest season or during periods of calamity.

Q. 10. Write notes on:

(i) Minimum Support Price

(ii) Buffer Stock
(ii) Issue Price
(iv) Fair Price Shops
) Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the price at which government purchases crops from the
Ans.
farmers which is different from the market price. The MSP helps to support the farmers
and thus, ensures that they produce the required food grains in the country.
i Buffer Stock are food grains mainly wheat and rice procured by the government and
stored in granaries. The minimum support price is declared by the government every year
to provide incentives to the farmers for raising the production. It is done to be distributed

in deficit and during problem of shortage of food during a calamity.

areas

the procured and buffer stock food grains are sold through the PDS is
(ii) The price at which
called as 'issue price. The issue price is higher than MSP but lower than the market price
of that grain.
also known as ration shops, chiefly sell wheat, rice, kerosene and sugar
iv) Fair Price Shops the
at issue price.
A ration card is required to buy items that have been subsidised by
torm a distribution channel of Public Distribution system (PDS).
government. They

Economics 407
Q. 11. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related items.
Ans. The cooperative societies set up shops to sell low priced goods to poor people. Mother Dairv
isproviding milk and vegetables to the consumers at controlled rate while Amul is another
cooperative in milk and milk products. Academy of Development Science (ADS) has facilitated a
network of NGOs for setting up grain banks in different regions.

Source-based Question
Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follow:
Although a large section of people suffer from food and nutrition insecurity in India, the worst affected
groups are landless people with little or no land to depend upon, traditional artisans, providers of
traditional services, petty selfemployed workers and destitutes including beggars. In the urban areas,
the food insecure families are those whose working members are generally employed in il-paid
and casual labour market. These workers in seasonal activities and
occupations are largely engaged
are paid very low wages thatjust ensure bare survival.
The social composition along with the inability to buy food also plays a role in food insecurity. The Ss,
STs and some sections of the OBCs (lower castes among them) who have either poor land-base or very
to
low land productivity are prone to food insecurity. The people affected by natural disasters, who have
migrate to other areas in search of work, are also among the most food insecure people. A high incidence
of malnutrition prevails among women. This is a matter of serious concern as it puts even the unoou
baby at the risk of malnutrition. A large proportion of pregnant and nursing mothers and children
under the age of 5 years constitute an important segment of the food insecure population.
(a) What plays a major role in food in security?