13. The following table shows the proportion of unde mourished adults in india. It is
based on a survey of various states for the yea: 2003. Look at the table and
answer the following questions.
State
Male
(%)
Female
(%)
22
19
Kerala
Karnataka
36
38
43
42
Madhya Pradesh
37
All States
36
(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Can you guess why around 40 per cent of people in the country are
undernourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the
country? Describe in your own words
Answers
Answer:
(i) The nutritional level of people of Kerala is quite higher than the people – both males and females of Madhya Pradesh. Their ratio of the under-nourished is less than that of Madhya Pradesh i.e more per cent of males and females are undernourished in Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) There is enough food in the country, even then 40% of the people in the country are undernourished because:
A large number of people are so poor that they cannot afford nutritious food.
In most of the states, the Public Distribution System (PDS) does not function properly and the poor people cannot get food items at cheaper rates.
There is a lack of educational and health facilities in many parts of the country. So many people remain backward and poor. As such, they are unable to get nutritious food.