Question

The cooperatives and NGOs are playing an important role in food security in India. Discuss.

Answer 1

(i) The cooperatives are also playing an important role in food security in India especially in the southern and western parts of the country.
(ii) The cooperative societies set up shops to sell low priced goods to poor people.
(iii) In Delhi, Mother Dairy is making strides in the provision of milk and vegetables to the consumers at a controlled rate decided by the Government of Delhi.
(iv) Amul is another success story of cooperatives in milk and milk products from Gujarat. It has brought about the White Revolution in the country.
(v) There are a few examples of many more cooperatives running in different parts of the country ensuring food security of different sections of society.
(vi) Similarly, in Maharashtra, the Academy of Development Science (ADS) has facilitated a network of NGOs for setting up grain banks in different regions.
(vii) It organizes training and capacity building programs on food security for NGOs.
(viii) Grain banks are now slowly taking shape in different parts of Maharashtra.
(ix) ADS efforts to set up Grain Banks, to facilitate replication through other NGOs and to influence the Government's policy on food security are thus paying rich dividends.
(x) The ADS Grain Bank program is acknowledged as a successful and innovative food security intervention.