‘Food security is essential in India’ Justify the statement.

Food security is essential in India. Food security refers to the availability, accessibility and affordability of food. The poor households are more vulnerable to food insecurity whenever there is a problem of production or distribution.

● The poorest section of the society must be food insecure at all times but that doesn't mean that the ones who are above the poverty line are always food secure. When the country faces some kind of national disaster there takes place a widespread failure of crops which might result in famines.

● In times of a natural calamity, for example- drought, there is a decline in the total production of food grains causing scarcity of food in the areas which are affected.

● As a result of the shortage, there is a rise in the price and not everyone can afford to buy food at such high prices.

● If such calamity covers a wider area or happens for a longer time period, it might result in a situation of starvation.

● The consequence of massive starvation is famine which is characterized by widespread deaths due to starvation and epidemics caused by forced use of contaminated water or decaying food and loss of body resistance due to weakening from starvation.

● The Famine of Bengal in 1943 is recorded as the most devastating famine in the country till now. It took lives of 30 lakh people.