Correct Option
The correct option is (d).
Explanation
Food security in India is determined not only by the availability of food but also by accessibility and affordability. Vulnerability to food insecurity is disproportionately distributed across specific social groups, economic classes, and demographic segments, often correlating with structural poverty and lack of productive assets.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: In India, food insecurity is strongly linked to social stratification. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and certain sections of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) often possess a poor land base or land with low productivity. Their dependence on casual labor and lack of assets make them structurally prone to food insecurity.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Natural disasters (such as droughts, floods, or cyclones) disrupt local agricultural production and livelihoods. People affected by such disasters often undertake distress migration to other areas in search of work. As migrant laborers with unstable incomes and often without access to the Public Distribution System (PDS) in the new location, they are among the most food-insecure groups.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Malnutrition has a significant gender dimension. A high incidence of malnutrition and anemia prevails among women, particularly in rural areas. This maternal malnutrition creates an intergenerational cycle of poverty and poor health, as it puts unborn babies at risk of low birth weight and developmental deficiencies.
Key Takeaway: Food insecurity in India is not uniform; it is concentrated among socially disadvantaged groups (SC/ST/OBC), victims of natural disasters (migrants), and women, creating a cycle of malnutrition that affects future generations.