POVERTY

Question.1. What is poverty ? [CBSE 2015]

Answer. Poverty is a situation in which a person is unable to get the minimum basic
necessities of life, i.e., food, clothing and shelter for his or her sustenance.

Question.2. What is mass poverty ?

Answer. Mass poverty is a situation in which a large section of people in economy
are deprived of the basic necessities.

Question.3. What is BPL ?

Or
What is Poverty Line ?
Answer. In India, the concept of Poverty line is used as a measure of absolute
poverty. So BPL (Below Poverty Line) is a line which demarcate the people, who are
living below the poverty from those, who are living above the poverty line.

Question.4. Mention any two indicators of poverty.

Answer. (i) Level of income.
(ii) Level of consumption.

Question.5. Name any two poverty and unemployment alleviation

programmes which have been initiated by the government to remove poverty
and unemployment in rural areas.
Answer. (i) The Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme.
(ii) Integrated Rural Development Programmer of IRDP.

Question.6. What is the accepted average calorie requirement in India

(i) In rural areas
(ii) In urban areas
(iii) Why calorie requirement is higher in the rural areas ?
Answer.(i) 2400 calories
(ii) 2100 calories
(iii) Since people living in rural areas engage themselves in more physical work, so
calorie requirement in rural areas is higher than in the urban areas.

Question.7. How is the poverty line estimated periodically ? Name an

organisation which is responsible for estimating poverty. [CBSE 2015]
Answer. The poverty line is estimated periodically by conducting sample surveys.
These surveys are carried out by the
National Sample Survey Organisation. (NSSO).

Question.8. Name any four poverty ridden states.

Answer. Odisha, Bihar, Assam and Tripura.
Question.9. Define poverty with contest to World Bank. Name any four
countries which have high percentage of population living below poverty.
Answer. All those persons who live on less than $1.25 per day are considered living
below poverty line.
(i) Nigeria
(ii) Bangladesh
(iii) India
(iv) Pakistan

Question.10. ‘The current anti- poverty strategy of the government is based

broadly on two planks’. Name the two planks.
Answer. (i) Promotion of economic growth.
(ii) Targeted anti-poverty programmes.

Question.11. Name a poverty alleviation programme for rural areas with its
objectives.
Answer. Rural Employment Generation Programme.
(i) The aim of the programme is to create self-employment
opportunities in rural areas and small towns.
(ii) A target for creating 25 lakhs new jobs has been set for the programme under the
Tenth Five Year plan.

Question.12. Name any two social groups which are most vulnerable to
poverty.
Answer. Scheduled Caste(SC) and Scheduled Tribe(ST).

Question.13. Mention any one historical reason for poverty.

Answer. Low level of economic development under the British.

Question.14. Name the Act through which a poor person can get 100 days
assured employment.
Answer. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

Question.15. Name a scheme which was launched to create self-employment

opportunities for the educated youth in the rural areas.
Answer. The Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana.

Short Answer Type Questions (3 Marks)

Question.1. ‘One historical reason is the low level of economic development

under the British colonial administration.’ Explain.
Answer. (i) The policies of the colonial government ruined traditional handicrafts and
discouraged development of industries like textiles.
(ii) The low rate of growth persisted until the nineteen eighties. This resulted in less
job opportunities and low growth rate of incomes.
(iii) This was accompanied by a high growth rate of population. The two combined to
make the growth rate of per capita income very low. The failure at both the fronts:
promotion of economic growth and population control perpetuated the cycle of
poverty.

Question.2. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India.

Answer. (i) Lack of industrialisation: India is very backward from the industrial point
of view. Hardly 3 per cent of the total working population is engaged in the large-
scale industry.
(ii) Over dependence on agri-culture: Even after more than 60 years of
independence more than 60 per cent of our total population still depends on
agriculture for its livelihood. Due to shortage of inputs, our agriculture is backward.
(iii) Inflationary pressure : Upward trend in prices adversely affects the poor sections
of the society.
(iv) Unemployment : Due to lack of job opportunities, more than 90 lakhs of our total
working force is unemployed.

Question.3. What are the major objectives of the Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana
?
Answer. (i) The Yojana was launched in 1993.
(ii) The aim of the programme is to create self-employment
opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns.
(iii) Under this unemployed are helped in setting up small business and industries.

Question.4. Which of the main factor responsible for the reduction of poverty
in the following states:
(i) Punjab
(ii) Kerala
(iii) West Bengal
(iv) Tamil Nadu
Answer. (i) Punjab : Povety has been reduced due to high agricultural growth rate.
(ii) Kerala: Poverty has been reduced through human resource development.
(iii) West Bengal : Poverty has been . reduced through land reform measures.
(iv) Tamil Nadu : Poverty has been reduced through proper public distribution
system.

Question.5. Give an account of the inter-state disparities in poverty in

India.[CBSE2014]
Answer. (i) States with poverty ratio more than the national average :
Orissa, Bihar, Assam, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh are the most poverty ridden states
of India. The poverty ratio in these states is much higher than the national average.
Orissa and Bihar are the poorest states with poverty ratio of 47 and 43 respectively.
Most of these states are facing rural as well as urban poverty.
(ii) States with poverty ratio less than the national average :
Recent studies show that in 20 states and union territories, the poverty ratio is less
than the national average. There has been a significant decline in poverty ratio in
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and West Bengal.
(iii) States with low poverty ratio :
States like Punjab, Haryana, Goa, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir have very
low percentage of population living below the poverty line.
Question.6. Answer the following questions briefly :
(i) What do you understand by human poverty ?
(ii) Who are the poorest of the poor ?
(iii) What are the main features of the National Rural Employ¬ment Guarantee
Act, 2005 ?
Answer. (i) Human poverty is a broader concept of poverty. Along with food it also
includes other necessities of life like education, shelter, health care, job, security,
social equality, etc.
(ii) Apart from the social groups, there is also inequality of incomes within a family. In
poor families, all suffer, but some suffer more than others. Women, elderly people
and female infants are systematically denied equal access to resources available to
the family. Therefore, women, children (especially the girl child) and old people are
the poorest of the poor.
(iii) 1. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) 2005 was passed in
September 2005.
2. The act provides 100 days assured employment to every rural household in 200
districts.
3. Later, the scheme will be extended to 600 districts. One- third of the proposed
jobs would be reserved for women.
4. The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee
Funds.
5. Similarly, state governments will establish State Employment Guarantee Funds for
implementation of the scheme.
6. Under the programme, if an applicant is not provided employment within fifteen
days, he/she will be entitled to a daily unemployment allowance.

Question.7.”There is a strong link between economic growth and poverty

reduction.” Explain.
Answer.(i) Over a period of thirty years lasting up to the early eighties, there were
little per capita income growth and not much reduction in poverty. Official poverty
estimates which were about 45 per cent in the early 1950s remained the same even
in the early eighties.
(ii) Since the eighties, India’s economic growth has been one of the fastest in the
world. The growth rate jumped from the average of about 3.5% a year in the 1970s
to about 6 % cent during the 1980s and 1990s. The higher growth rates have helped
significantly in the reduction of poverty.
(iii) Economic growth widens opportunities and provides the resources needed to
invest in human development.

Question.8. ‘The results of poverty alleviation programmes have been mixed.’

Give any four reasons.
Answer. (i) One of the major reason for less effectiveness is the lack of proper
implementation and right targeting.
(ii) There has been a lot of overlapping of schemes.
(iii) Overpopulation
(iv) Corruption

Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)

Question.1. What are the major features of poverty ? Explain.
Answer. (i) It also is a situation in which
parents are not able to send their children to school or a situation where sick people
cannot afford treatment.
(ii) Poverty also means lack of clean water and sanitation facilities.
(iii) It also means lack of regular job at a minimum decent level. Above all it means
living with a sense of helplessness.
(iv) Poor people are in a situation in which they are ill-treated at almost every place,
in farms, factories, government offices, hospitals, railway stations etc.
(v) Poverty when looked through other social indicators
like illiteracy level, lack of general resistance due to malnutrition, lack of access to
healthcare, lack of job opportunities, lack of access to safe drinking water, sanitation
etc.

Question.2. Describe the poverty trends in India since 1973. [CBSE March
2011,12]
Answer. (i) There has been a substantial decline in poverty ratios in India from about
55 per cent in 1973 to 30 per cent in 2009-10.
(ii) More than 56% of rural population was living below poverty in 1973 which has
come down to 34%.
(iii) Around about 50 % of urban population was living below poverty in 1973 which
has come down to 27%.
(iv) Although the percentage of people living under poverty declined in the earlier two
decades (1973-1993), the number of poor remained stable around 320 million for a
fairly long period.
(a) If the trend continues, people below poverty line may come down to less than 20
per cent in the next few years.

Question.3. Identify the various groups vulnerable to poverty. [CBSE 2014] Or

“The proportion of people below poverty line is also not same for all social
groups and economic categories in India.” Explain.
Answer. (i) Social Groups: The social groups which are most vulnerable to poverty
are scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households. Although the average for
people below poverty line for all groups in India is 30, 48 out of 100 people belonging
to scheduled tribes in rural areas are not able to meet their basic needs.
(ii) Economic groups : Similarly among the economic groups, the most vulnerable
groups are the rural agricultural labour households and the urban casual labour
households.
(iii) Inequality with in family :
Apart from these social groups, there is also inequality of incomes within a family. In
poor families all suffer, but some suffer more than others. Women, elderly people
and female infants are systematically denied equal access to resources available to
the family.
Therefore women, children (especially the girl child) and old people are poorest of
the poor.

Question.4. Explain some measures which have been taken by the government
to remove poverty. [CBSE 2015]
Or
Describe the current government strategy to remove poverty in India.
Answer. To remove poverty government has adopted two approaches:
(1) Indirect approach : This covers achieving high economic growth rate, promotion
of small scale industry, promotion of agriculture. This approach is also referred as
trickle down effect. It was assumed that the development of industry and agriculture
would create employment opportunities and income, which would lead to rapid
economic development.
(2) Direct approach : Under direct approach government has launched various
poverty alleviation programmes and food schemes to target the poor directly.
The government has launched various poverty alleviation schemes to control
poverty.
(i) National Rural Employ-ment Guarantee Act (NREGA) 2005: It
was passed in September 2005. The Act provides 100 days assured employment
every year to every rural household in 200 districts. Later, the scheme will be
extended to 600 districts. One-third of the proposed jobs would be reserved for
women. The central government will also establish National Employment Guarantee
Funds. Similarly, state governments will establish State Employment Guarantee
Funds for the implementation of the scheme. Under the programme, if an applicant is
not provided employment within fifteen days, he/she will be entitled to a daily
unemployment allowance.
(ii) National Food for Work Programme (NFWP) : It was
launched in 2004 in 150 most backward districts of the country. The programme is
open to all rural poor, who are in need of wage employment, and desire to do
manual unskilled work. It is implemented as a 100 per cent centrally sponsored
scheme, and food grains are provided free of cost to the states. Once the NREGA is
in force, the NFWP will be subsumed within this programme.
(iii) The Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) : It was started in 1993. The aim of
the programme is to create self-employment opport¬unities for the educated
unemployed youth in rural areas and small towns. They are helped in setting up
small business and industries.
(iv) Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) : It was launched in 1995.
The aim of the programme is to create self-employment opportunities in rural areas
and small towns. A target for creating 25 lakh new jobs has been set for the
programme under the Tenth Five Year Plan.
(v) Swamajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) : It was launched in 1999. The
programme aims at bringing the assisted poor families
above the poverty line by organising them into self-help groups through a j mix of
bank credit and government subsidy.
(vi) Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY) : It was launched in 2000, additional
central assistance is given to states for basic services such as primary health,
primary education, rural shelter, rural drinking water and rural electrification.
<img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8546/30153327095_cac0cb48b6_o.png"
alt="important-questions-for-cbse-class-9-social-science-poverty-as-a-challenge-1"
width="803" height="325" />

Question.5. Explain any three major reasons for a widespread poverty in India.
Or
Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India. [CBSE 2015]
Answer. (i) British Rule : Britishers ruled India more than 100 years. Prior to the
British rule, traditional industries, for instance, textiles, flourished in India. During the
British rule, the government adopted policies to discourage such industries. This left
millions of weavers poor. Even after fifty years of independent India, we can find a
major section of the people engaged handicraft industries as , downtrodden.
(ii) Lack of industrialisation : India is very backward from the industrial point of view.
Hardly 3 per cent of the total working population is engaged in the large- scale
industry.
(iii) Over dependence on agriculture Even after more than 60 years of independence
more than 60 per cent of our total population still depends on agriculture for its
livelihood. Due to shortage of inputs, our agriculture is backward.
(iv) Inflationary pressure : Upward trend in prices adversely affects the poor sections
of the society.
(v) Unemployment : Due to lack of job opportunities, more than 90 lakhs of our total
working force is unemployed.

Higher Order Thinking Skills (Hots) Questions/Application Based Questions

Question.l. Study the given bar graph carefully, and answer the following
questions :
<img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5278/30118310426_d467091efc_o.png"
alt="important-questions-for-cbse-class-9-social-science-poverty-as-a-
challenge-2" width="683" height="334" />
Source : Economic Survey 2001-02, Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
(i) Identify the three states where the poverty ratio is the highest.
(ii) Identify the three states where poverty ratio is the lowest.
(iii) Why the states named by you in part (i) have a high poverty ratio ?
(iv) Why the states named by you in part (ii) have a low poverty ratio ? Mention
one reason.
Answer. (i) Odisha, Bihar and Chattisgarh.
(ii) Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Kerala.
(iii) Due to lack of job opportunities and high density of population.
(iv) Due to availability of work.
<img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5521/30039122542_55975168db_o.png"
alt="important-questions-for-cbse-class-9-social-science-poverty-as-a-challenge-3"
width="587" height="362" />

Question.2. Study the given figure carefully, and answer the following
questions :
(i) Which area/country of the world had the largest concentration of poor in
1981 ?
(ii) Name the regions/countries where poverty has decreased (any two).
(iii) Whether the poverty in South Asia is increasing or decreasing. Give
reason.
Answer. (i) China.
(ii) China, East Asia and the Pacific.
(iii) Poverty in South Asia is decreasing. In 1981 more than 50 per cent of the
population
was living below the poverty line, but in 2001, it was approximately 30 per cent.

Question.3. Study the given bar graph carefully, and answer the following
questions :
(i) Name any two social groups are highly vulnerable to poverty.
(ii) What is an average Indian poverty ratio ?
(iii) Name any two economic groups which are highly vulnerable to poverty.
Answer. (i) Scheduled tribes arid Scheduled castes.
(ii) 30 per cent.
(iii) Rural agricultural labourer households and the urban casual labour households.
<img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5590/30153326435_aec1e41810_o.png"
alt="important-questions-for-cbse-class-9-social-science-poverty-as-a-challenge-4"
width="665" height="304" />

Value Based Questions

Question.l. Suggest any four ways to reduce poverty in India. [CBSE 2015]
Answer. (i) There is need to invest in agriculture and industrial sector. The
investment in both these sectors will lead to higher economic growth. The higher
economic growth rate is expected to provide to more economic opportunities.
(ii) Increasing stress on universal free elementary education will help in the formation
of human capital.
(iii) There is need to check high birth rate. The high birth rate leads to a mismatch
between resources and population.
(iv) There is need for to empower women and economically weaker sections of
society.

Question.2. What is the basic aim of following poverty alleviation programmes

?
(i) Prime Minister Rozgar Yozana (PMRY).
(ii) Rural Employment Gener¬ation Programme (REGP).
Answer. (i) The scheme which was started in 1993. The aim of the programme is to
create self-employment opportunities for educated unemployed youth in rural areas
and small towns. They are helped in setting up small business and industries.
(ii) Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP)
The aim of the programme is to create self employment opportunities in rural areas
and small towns and to develop entrepreneurial skill and attitude among rural
unemployed youth.

Question.3. Mention any two causes of poverty in India.

Answer. (i) High growth rate of population.
(ii) Lack of job opportunities in the secondary sector.
Question.4. How can poverty be reduced in future in India ? Suggest any two
points.
Answer. (i) Better Economic growth.
(ii) Increasing stress on universal free elementary education.

Question.5. “Poverty is a curse upon humanity.” Explain by giving two

examples.[CBSE 2015]
Answer. (i) Poverty is a curse because most of the poor people live with a sense of
helplessnes.
(ii) Poor people are debarred from the basic necessity if life, i.e. good health, drinking
water etc.
FOOD SECURITY

Question.1. What is food security ?

Answer. Food security means availability, accessibility and affordability of food to all
people at all times.

Question.2. Name any two factors on which the food security depends upon.
Answer. (i) Buffer stock.
(ii) Public Distribution System (PDS).
(iii) Vigilancy of the government at the time of natural calamity.
(iv) Food production.

Question.3. Name the two dimensions of hunger.

Answer. Chronic : It is a consequence of diets persistently inadequate in terms of
quantity and/or quality.
Seasonal: It is related to the cycles of food growing and harvesting.

Question.4. Mention any two factors responsible for seasonal hunger.

Answer. (i) Seasonal hunger is related to the cycle of food growing and harvesting. This
is prevalent in rural areas because of the seasonal nature of agricultural activities.
(ii) Seasonal hunger is prevalent in urban areas due to lack of job opportunities.

Question.5. What is chronic hunger ? Name any one factor responsible for chronic
hunger.
Answer. It is a consequence of diets persistently inadequate in terms of quantity and/or
quality. Very low income is one of the basic cause of chronic hunger.

Question.6.Define Green Revolution.[CBSE 2015]

Answer.The Green Revolution implies large increase in agricultural production due to
use of high yielding varieties of seeds and other inputs such as manure, fertilizers, etc.

Question.7. What is buffer stock ?

Answer. Buffer stock is the stock of foodgrains, namely wheat and rice procured by the
government through Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Question.8. What is minimum support price ?[CBSE 2015]
Answer. The farmers are paid a pre-announced price for their crops. This price is called
Minimum Support Price. The MSP is before the sowing season to provide incentives to
the farmers for raising the production of these crops declared by the government every
year.

Question.9. What is issue price ? [CBSE 2015]

Answer. It is a price at which foodgrains are distributed in the deficit areas and among
the poorer strata of society at a price lower than the market price.

Question.10. What are the functions of the FCI ? Mention any two.
Answer. (i) The Food Cooperation of India or FCI purchases wheat and rice from the
farmers in the states, where there is surplus production.
(ii) It also builds the buffer stock.

Question.11. What is Public Distribution System (PDS) ?

Answer. Under public distribution system or the PDS, the Government has opened
more than 4.6 lakh ration shops all over the country to distribute foodgrains and other
essential goods to the poor people at reasonable rates.

Question.12. What is the Targeted Public Distribution System ?

Answer. In order to ensure availability of minimum quantity of food grains to the
families living below the poverty line, the Government launched the TPDS or the
Targeted Public Distribution System in June 1997. It was intended to benefit about six
crore poor families in the country for whom a quantum of 72 lakh tonnes of foodgrains
was earmar- ked annually at the rate of 10kg per family per month.
It was introduced to adopt the principle of targeting the ‘poor in all areas’.

Question.13. Name any two Yojanas introduced with one objective of each for food
security.
Answer. (i) National Food for Work Programme : Under this, foodgrains are provided to
the states free of cost.
(ii) Antyodaya Anna Yojana: Under this 25 kg of food- grains were made available to
each eligible family at a subsidised price.

Question.14. Mention any two limitations of the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Answer. (i) Resorting of PDS dealers to malpractices.
(ii) Irregular opening of shops.

Question.15. What are cooperative societies?

Answer. The cooperative societies are the societies which are run by the local people,
who are democratically elected by the people. These cooperative societies provide
people the basic necessities of life like foodgrains, milk, vegetables, etc. at reasonable
rates.
Question.16. Mention the names of any four cooperative societies working in
different states of India.
Answer. (i) Mother Dairy- Delhi
(ii) Amul-Gujarat
(iii) Verka-Punjab
(iv) Academy of Development Science- Maharashtra

Question.17. What is a subsidy ?

Answer. A subsidy is a payment that a government makes to a producer to supplement
the market price of a commodity. Subsidies can keep consumer prices low while
maintaining a higher income for domestic producers.

Short Answer Type Questions (3 Marks)

Question. 1. Explain the major dimensions of food security.

Answer. Food security has the following dimensions:

1. Availability of food: It means food production within the country, food imports
and the previous years stock stored in government granaries.
2. Accessibility : It means food is within reach of every person.
3. Affordability : It implies that an individual has enough money to buy sufficient,
safe and nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.

Question. 2. Mention the major features of Public Distribution system of India.

Answer.

1. The PDS has proved to be the most effective instrument of government policy
over the years in stabilising prices and making food available to consumers at
affordable prices.
2. It has been instrumental in averting widespread hunger and famine by supplying
food from surplus regions of the country to the deficit ones.
3. The system, including the minimum support price and procurement has
contributed to an increase in foodgrain production and provided income security
to farmers in certain regions.
4. It has minimized hoarding and black marketing.

Question. 3. What are the limitations of the public distribution system ?[CBSE
2015]
Answer.

1. Failed to remove hunger : The PDS has been working for many years but still
hunger is prevailing in the Indian society.
2. Overflowing godowns : The FCI godowns are overflowing with foodgrains. In
2012 the stock of wheat and rice was 82.3 million tonnes which was much more
than the minimum stock. There is a general consensus that high level of buffer
stock of foodgrains is very undesirable and can be wasteful.
 3. Poor foodgrain quality: As most of godowns have more stock than their capacity,
this leads to deterioration in grain quality.
4. Adverse impact on the environment: Due to incentive by the government most of
the states are producing only rice and wheat. The intensive utilization of water in
the cultivation of rice has led to environmental degradation and fall in the water
level, threatening the sustain- ability of the agricultural development in many
states.

Question. 4. How is food security ensured in India ?

Answer. Food security in India has two components:
(a) Buffer stock
(b) Public distribution system.
(a) Buffer Stock: Buffer Stock is the stock of foodgrains, namely wheat and rice procured
by the government through Food Corporation of India (FCI). The FCI purchases wheat
and rice from the farmers in states where there is surplus production.
The purchased foodgrains are stored in granaries. This is done to distribute foodgrains
in the deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price lower than the
market price, also known as Issue Price. This helps in resolving the problem of shortage
of food.
(b) Public distribution system : The stored food is distributed to the poor people
through ration shops. The items are sold to the poor people at a price lower than the
market price.
Other schemes : Over the years, several new programmes have been launched like mid-
day meal, Antyodaya Ana Yojana, etc. for food security.

Question. 5. Why is buffer stock created by the Government ?

Answer.

1. Food security: The main objective of the buffer stock is to distribute the
foodgrains in the deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price
lower than the market price.
2. Disaster or Calamity : The second objective of the buffer stock is to resolve the
problem of shortage of food during adverse weather conditions or during the
period of calamity.
3. To save the farmers from the ups and downs of the market: The third important
objective of the buffer stock is to save the farmers from ups and downs of the
market. Under this farmers are paid a preannounced price for their crops. This
price is declared by the government before the sowing season to provide
incentives to the farmers.
4. Uninterrupted supply of foodgrains: Buffer stocks are also created by the
government to maintain uninterrupted supply of foodgrains throughout India and
throughout the year.

Question. 6. Write a note on the role of cooperatives in providing food and related
items.
Answer.
 1. The cooperatives are also playing an important role in food security in India
especially in the southern and western parts of the country.
2. The cooperative societies set up shops to sell low priced goods to poor people.
For example, out of all fair price shops running in Tamil Nadu, around 94 per cent
are being run by the cooperatives.
3. Many milk purchasing cooperatives like Verka, Mother Dairy, Amul, etc. have
brought about the White Revolution in the country.
4. These are a few examples of many more cooperatives running in different parts
of the country ensuring food security of different sections of society.

Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)

Question.1. Discuss the major reasons for poverty in India/CBSE March 2012]
Or
Explain any three causes for the widespread poverty in India.[CBSE March
2012,13,15]
Answer.

1. British Rule : Britishers ruled

India more than 100 years. Prior to the British rule, traditional industries, for
instance, textiles, flourished in India. During the British rule, the government
adopted policies to discourage such industries. This left millions of weavers poor.
Even after fifty years of independent India, we can find a major section of the
people engaged handicraft industries as downtrodden.
2. Lack of industrialisation : India is very backward from the industrial point of view.
Hardly 3 per cent of the total working population is engaged in the large- scale
industry.
3. Over dependence on agriculture: Even after more than 60 years of independence
more than 60 per cent of our total population still depends on agriculture for its
livelihood. Due to shortage of inputs, our agriculture is backward.
4. Inflationary pressure : Upward trend in prices adversely affects the poor sections
of the society.
5. Unemployment : Due to lack of job opportunities, more than 90 lakhs of our total
working force is unemployed.

Question.2. Explain the major limitations of Public Distribution System.

Answer.

1. Stock higher than buffer norms : The actual stock has always remained higher
than the buffer. There is a general consensus that high level of buffer stocks of
food- grains is very undesirable and can be wasteful. The storage of massive food
stocks has been responsible for high carrying costs, in addition to wastage and
deterioration in grain quality.
2. High burden on the economy :
The Minimum Support Price for food grains has risen very sharply in the recent
years leading to a very high burden on state exchequer.
3. Threat to sustainability of agriculture : The intensive utilisation of water in the
cultivation of rice has also led to environmental degrada-tion and fall in the water
 level, threatening the sustainability of the agricultural development in many
states.
4. Marked ineffectiveness :
Another major area of concern is the marked ineffectiveness of PDS, which is
apparent from the fact that the average consumption of PDS grain at the all-India
level is only 1 kg per person per month. The average consumption figure is as low
as less than 300 gm per person per month in the states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar
Pradesh.
5. Corrupt dealers: PDS dealers are sometimes found resorting to malpractices like
diverting the grains to open market to get better margin, selling poor quality
grains at ration shops, irregular opening of the shops, etc. It is common to find
that ration shops regularly have unsold stocks of poor quality grains left.

Higher Prefer Thinking Skills (Hots) Questions/Application Based Questions

Question.1. Study the graph and answer the following questions:

(i) In which recent year foodgrain stock with the government was maximum ?
(ii) What was the minimum buffer stock norm in 2012 ?
(iii) Why were the FCI granaries overflowing with foodgrains ?
(iv) What is buffer stock ?
(v) Why is there general consensus that high level of buffer stock of foodgrains is
very undesirable ?
Answer.

1. July, 2012.
2. 33 million tonnes.
3. The PDS or the Public Distribution System has failed to distribute foodgrains
through the fair price shops.
4. A stock of foodgrains procured by the government to distribute in deficit areas
and among the poor strata of society.
5. The higher level of buffer stock can be wasteful. The storage of massive food stock
has been responsible for high carrying costs in adition to wastage and
deterioration in grain quality.
Question.2. Distinguish between chronic and seasonal hunger.
Answer.

Value Based Questions

Question.1. Which are the people who are prone

to food insecurity in India ?
Answer.

1. Food insecure in rural areas :

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 self
employed workers and destitutes including beggars.
2. Food insecure in urban areas :
In the urban areas, the food insecure families are those whose working members
are generally employed in ill-paid occupations and casual labour market. These
workers are largely engaged in seasonal activities and are paid very low wages
that just ensure bare survival.
3. Social composition and food insecurity: The social composition along with the
inability to buy food also plays a role in food insecurity. The SCs, STs and some
sections of the OBCs (lower castes among them) who have either poor land-base
or very low land productivity are prone to food insecurity.
4. Migrants and people affected by natural disasters : The people affected by natural
disasters, who have to migrate to other areas in search of work, are also among
the most food insecure people.
5. Food insecurity within a family : A high incidence of malnutrition prevails among
women. This is a matter of serious concern as it puts even the unborn 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.

Question.2. Explain the role of Public Distribution System in food security.

Or
How does PDS ensures food security in India ? (CBSE 2014)
Or
Mention major features of Public Distribution System in India.[CBSE 2012,13]
Answer.

1. Government regulated shops :

The food procured by the FCI is distributed through government regulated ration
shops among the poorer section of the society. This is called the public
distribution system (PDS). Ration shops are now present in most localities,
villages, towns and cities. There are about 5.5 lakh ration shops all over the
country.
2. Food at lower cost: Ration shops also known as Fair Price Shops keep stock of
foodgrains, sugar, kerosene oil for cooking. These items are sold to people at a
price lower than the market price.
3. Stabilising prices : The PDS has proved to be the most effective instrument of
government policy over the years in stabilising prices and making food available
to consumers at affordable prices. It has been instrumental in averting
widespread hunger and famine by supplying food from surplus regions of the
country to the deficit ones.
4. Increase in food production :
The system, including the minimum support price and procurement has
contributed to an increase in foodgrain production and provided income security
to farmers in certain regions.

Question.3. Name the place a poor person should go to purchase essential goods
at reasonable rates.
Answer. Fair price shop

Question.4. Your family comes under poorest of the poor. Under which of the
government scheme you can get cheap ration?
Answer. Antyodaya Anna Yojana.

Question.5. Why is there a need for food security in India ? Suggest any two points.
Answer. (i) Poverty.
(ii) Hoarding and black marke- ting.

Question.6. What are the functions of the FCI ? Mention any two functions.
Answer. (i) To make the foodgrains available to the poor a reasonable price.
(ii) To maintain a price stability of foodgrains.

PALLAMPUR

Q1. What is the aim of production?

Aim of production is to produce goods and services.

Q2. What are the four requirements of production?

There are four requirements of production:
1. Land: contains natural resources, water, forests and minerals.
2. Labour: People do the work and manufacture goods and services. Labourers may be skilled,
unskilled, educated and uneducated depending upon the production work and requirement.
3. Physical capital: Can be of fixed capital and working capital.

a. fixed capital: Tools, machines, buildings etc.. they may range from very simple tools such as
farmers plough to sophisticated machines to generators, computers etc..

b. working capital: Raw materials and money in hand come under this category. Ex. Yarn used by
weaver and clay used by potter. Some money is always required during production to make payments
and buy other necessary items.

4. Human capital: The fourth important requirement is human capital. Without human labour
production cannot be done.

Farming in palampur
1. land is fixed
Q1. How is land fixed in the village palampur?
75 % of people depend on farming. Land area in the village under cultivation is fixed. Since 1960
there has been no expansion in land area under cultivation. No further scope to increase farm
production. Land is fixed for agriculture in the village.

Q2. what is standard unit of measuring land in hectare?

Bigha, guintha etc.. are the local standard units of measuring land in hectares in the villages of India.
One hectare equals the area of a square with one side measuring 100 metres.
 Is there a way one can grow more from the same land?

Q1. Which Indian village resemble palampur?

Village of western U.P.

Q2. What are the different crops grown in the Indian villages during different seasons?
Kharif crops like jowar, Bajra are grown in rainy seasons. These plants are grown as cattle feed. It is
followed by cultivation of potato between October and December. In the winter season, rabi crops like
wheat, sugar cane are grown.

Q3. Where do the villagers of palampur sell jaggery?

Sugar cane is grown in the village on one part of the land and jaggery is produced and sold in
Raiganj.

Q4. How are the villagers able to grow more than one crop in palampur?
The villagers can grow more crops because they are having the facilities of electricity, well developed
system of irrigation etc.. Initially the tube wells were installed by the government later many private
tube wells were also installed. All the farmers in the village grow more than one crop. Many grow
potato as the third crop in their field.

Q5. What do you mean by multi cropping and dual cropping?

Multicropping: To grow more than one crop in the same field is known as multiple cropping. This
system gives high yield. Dual cropping: To grow two crops in the same piece of land.

Q6. What is Green revolution?

Excessive production in agriculture due to modern scientific methods are called green revolution.

Q7. What is HYV ?

In late 1960s HYVs are introduced, which were a great boon to agriculture. These are High Yielding
Varieties of seeds which guarantees greater qualitative and quantitative production. HYV seeds need
plenty of water and also chemical fertilizers and pesticides to produce best results.

Q8. Which states of India were the first to use modern methods of agriculture?
Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh were the first states to use modern methods of
agriculture and made use of HYV seeds, pesticides, chemical fertilizers etc..

Q9. What is the difference between multiple cropping and modern farming method?
Multiple cropping: In this method more than one crop is grown on a single piece of land. For
example: Wheat – bajra – potato.
Modern farming methods: In this method modern HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, modern tools
and machineries are used. This provides high yields.

Q10. How modern methods have over used the natural resources and violated the resources?

 Green revolution is associated with the loss of soil fertility.

 Continuous use of ground water for tube well irrigation has reduced the water – table below the
ground.
 Chemical fertilizers may destroy the bacteria and other micro organisms in the soil.
The consumption of chemical fertilizers in Punjab is highest in the country.

How is land distributed between the farmers of Palampur?

Q11. How is land distributed between the farmers of Palampur and Indian villages?

Land is unevenly distributed among the farmers of the villages. Some farmers have large lands while
some have very small and others have no land at all. Gobind a farmer in Palampur had 2.25 hectares
of land. After his death his land is further distributed among his four sons. In this way in every village
the land is getting divided hereditarily into smaller and smaller. These divisions may result in poor and
unsatisfactory production leading to poor economic status to the country.

Who will provide the labour?

Q1. Who will provide labour to landless farmers?
Landless farmers work in the field of rich farmers for wages. The government fixed salary is 60 rupees
per day. But most of the farmers are paid less than 40 rupees.

Q2. What is the problem of Dala and Ramkali?

 Dala and Ramkali are landless labourers.
 They work in the fields of others but now a days they don’t get work because many rich farmers use
modern tractors, machines etc.. and employ very less human labourers
 To run their livelihood Dala and Ramkali get loans. This further keep them in debt for ever.
 Landless farmers get jobs for a short duration and rest of the time they are engaged in some other
odd jobs.
 They get very less salaries for their work. They are paid even less than 35 – 40 rupees while the
government fixed salary is 60 rupees.
The capital needed in farming

Q1. Why do small and landless farmers need capital? Explain with examples.
 Small farmers have to borrow money from large farmers of the village or money lenders or the
traders who supply various inputs for cultivation.
 Savita, a small farmer gets loan from Tejpal Singh a large farmer at a rate of 24% to purchase seeds,
fertilizers and pesticides.
 Farmers need capitals as they don’t have surplus of their own.
Sale of Surplus Farm Products
Q1. What is surplus? What do the farmers do with the surplus?
Surplus are the excessive amount of production produced by the farmers. Example: Farmers
produce wheat and store a part of it for their consumption and the remaining they sell in the market
and gain profit. This profit is called surplus.

The farmers use the surplus as capital for the next harvest. Farmers like Govind or Savita are
poor and have little surplus. Big farmers like Tejpal Singh purchase farm machines, lend money or
save in the bank.

Non farming activity in Palampur

Q1. Write short note on
a. Dairy farming b. small scale manufacturing c. shopkeeping d. transport

a. Dairy farming : Dairy farming is a common activity in Palampur . People feed their buffalos on
various kinds of grass and the jowar and bajra that grows during rainy season.
Milk is sold in Raiganj. Traders of Shahpur have set up collectrion cum chilling centres at Raiganj

b. small scale manufacturing: Very simple production is done in the village. People produce
baskets, gur etc.. in small scale. Mishrilal of Palampur produce Jaggery and sell in Shahpur. He
makes a small profit. He owns a crushing machine as capital.

c. shopkeeping: Some villagers sell rice, wheat, sugar, tea, oil, biscuits, soap, toothpaste, batteries,
candles etc.. People whose houses are close to the bus stand use a part of the space to open small
shops. Some sell eatables like pakoras, samosas etc.. In Palampur Kareem had opened a computer
centre. Students from shahpur town had joined it. He had appointed two women of his village to work
in his centre. In this way he is self employed and have given employment to others.
d. transport: Transport is another major activity of villages. Rickshwas, Tongas, jeeps, tractors,
trucks are some of the vehicles found here. Some people are engaged in this line too. Kishora of
Palampur village own a buffalo. The buffalo gives milk and also draws cart for him. Every he goes to
ganga river to fetch clay for the potters of the village. Kishora is engaged in multi economic activity.

PEOPLE AS RESOURCE