question_answer

        The table shows the proportion of undernourished adults in India. It is based on a survey of various states in the country for the year 2001. Look at the table and answer the following questions.

State	Male (%)	Female (%)
Kerala	22	19
Karnataka	36	38
Madhya Pradesh	43	42
All States	37	36

(i) Compare the nutritional level of the people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. (ii) Can you guess, why around 40 per cent of the people in the country are undernourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the country? Describe in your own words.

Answer:

   (i) The nutritional level of the people of Kerala is significantly higher than that of Madhya Pradesh for both males and females as, the proportion of undernourished adults about half that of Madhya Pradesh. (ii) There is enough food in the country but even then 40 per cent of the people in the country are undernourished because of the following reasons (a) There is a lack of educational and health facilities in  many parts of the country. So, many people remain backward and poor and so, they are unable to get nutritious food. (b) In most of the states, the Public Distribution System (PDS) does not function properly and the poor people cannot get cheap food items, so they remain undernourished.