Roadmap for Answer Writing Introduction (1-2 Paragraphs) Context: Briefly mention India’s progress in reducing extreme poverty and the importance of addressing food insecurity and nutrition. Thesis: Acknowledge that while extreme poverty has decreased, access to healthy food remains a challenge for many, especially ...
Model Answer Poverty and hunger manifest differently in urban and rural areas of India due to varying socio-economic conditions, employment structures, and access to resources. 1. Employment and Livelihoods: In rural areas, about 47% of the population depends on agriculture, making them vulnerable tRead more
Model Answer
Poverty and hunger manifest differently in urban and rural areas of India due to varying socio-economic conditions, employment structures, and access to resources.
1. Employment and Livelihoods: In rural areas, about 47% of the population depends on agriculture, making them vulnerable to erratic weather patterns, land fragmentation, and other agricultural challenges. This leads to income instability and food insecurity. In contrast, urban areas, with their wide variety of job opportunities, still suffer from a high percentage (81%) of informal workers facing lower wages and a lack of social security, leading to precarious living conditions.
2. Access to Resources: Rural areas often have limited access to healthcare, education, and sanitation, trapping the poor in cycles of deprivation. Climate change impacts, such as droughts and floods, exacerbate these vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, urban areas suffer from spatial inequalities, leading to inadequate infrastructure and sanitation, which negatively affects food security and health, with high living costs further compounding these issues.
3. Social Exclusion and Isolation: In rural areas, caste and gender inequalities amplify poverty and hunger, limiting access to resources and opportunities for marginalized groups. Conversely, urban poverty is marked by social isolation due to the transient nature of urban life, leading to a lack of support networks for the poor.
4. Standard of Living: Rural areas, despite lower living standards, tend to have less stratification between different economic groups compared to urban areas, where a stark divide exists between the rich and poor. Around 100 million people in urban India live in slums, lacking basic amenities.
5. Food Insecurity: In rural areas, visible hunger and malnutrition are widespread, with insufficient calorie intake being a significant issue. Urban areas, while having sufficient calorie intake, suffer from “hidden hunger” due to poor dietary choices and micronutrient deficiencies.
Addressing these differences requires targeted policy interventions, focusing on infrastructure, social inclusion, education, and healthcare to effectively tackle the unique challenges faced by both urban and rural populations.
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Model Answer Despite a reduction in extreme poverty, access to healthy food in India remains a significant challenge. Several factors contribute to this: High Inflation and Stagnant Wages Food inflation in India has consistently hovered around 8%, while real wages have remained stagnant. According tRead more
Model Answer
Despite a reduction in extreme poverty, access to healthy food in India remains a significant challenge. Several factors contribute to this:
Food inflation in India has consistently hovered around 8%, while real wages have remained stagnant. According to the State of Working India 2023 report, earnings from regular wage and salaried work have not increased significantly between 2017-2021. This economic strain makes it difficult for many to afford nutritious food, as higher food prices outpace income growth.
India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), which serves over 80 crore people, predominantly focuses on rice and wheat. While these staples are calorie-dense, they are low in essential nutrients like zinc and iron. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has pointed out that high-yielding varieties of rice and wheat are poor at absorbing critical micronutrients from the soil, thus affecting overall nutrition levels.
Inefficient post-harvest management in India leads to an annual loss of 10-25% of vegetables, exacerbating food insecurity. The lack of proper storage and transportation infrastructure means that much of the available healthy food never reaches consumers, reducing its accessibility.
A significant portion of the population is unaware of balanced diets and healthy eating practices. According to reports, 85% of Indians are unaware of vegetarian protein sources, and over 50% don’t know about healthy fats, highlighting a critical knowledge gap about nutrition.
Measures to Improve Access to Healthy Food
The government must focus on making nutritious food more affordable. Reforms in the PDS, including the introduction of a broader range of nutritious foods, can make a significant difference. Transparent monitoring of food inflation is also essential to ensure that prices of healthy food remain stable.
Incentives should be provided to diversify agriculture, encouraging the cultivation of a variety of nutrient-rich crops. Additionally, improving the storage and transportation infrastructure can help reduce food wastage and ensure more healthy food reaches the market.
Nationwide nutrition education campaigns, especially in schools and rural communities, can raise awareness about balanced diets and the importance of healthy eating. These initiatives could significantly reduce malnutrition and improve overall public health.
In conclusion, addressing these barriers through targeted policy changes and awareness campaigns will be critical in making healthy food accessible to all. Efforts like Mission POSHAN 2.0 and the inclusion of millets in PDS by states like Karnataka are encouraging steps forward.
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