For developed countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, food insecurity holds a different meaning from countries like India and Pakistan where the literacy rates are much lower than the literacy rates in the US and UK. Due to the economic meltdown, many people in the developed countries have lost their jobs and are unable to have the luxuries they did before. However, there are many food shelters these people can go to to have meals 5 times a week. The recent video we watched in class stated that people in the United States view food insecurity in two different ways: the first being that the diet that people have either isn't big enough or the quality of the food isn't good, and the second is that people don't know where the next meal will come from. However, the difference between the causes of food insecurity in developing countries such as Pakistan and India is due to a lack of education. People come from big families where the parents are uneducated, causing them to work in a minimum wage job. The money they make isn't enough to sustain a family of seven or eight. For this reason, their children are unable to go to school and are unable to have enough food in their bellies. There aren't many places available in the rural areas of developing countries where poor people can have access to free food like the food shelters in the US.
"A Further Attack on PDS" by Madhura Swaminathan
* NOTE: PDS stands for public distribution system
Bias: THe autheor seems to take the side of the public distribution system along with the people who are food insecure and goes against the government stating its corruption.
Purpose: Though the author provides many statistical evidence, she is trying to persuade her readers of the government's corruption and "disinterest" in food insecurity and is also trying to persuade her readers to view food insecurity as a major problem.
Argument: Her argument states that the separation of low income families into below poverty line (BPL) and above poverty line (APL), the government only providing a set amount of grains for the poorest families, and increasing the prices of grains will increase the problem of food insecurity. THe only solution is by allowing the food economy and the public distribution system (PDS) to be guided by those in need of food and those who are poor.
"Fighting for Food Security in India" by Biraj Swain
Bias: Talking about food insecurity throughout his article, the author clearly take the side of those whoa re food insecure, however, doesn't try to put those who aren't in favor of those who are food insecure like the author of "A Further Attack on PDS."
Purpose: Though he supports finding a solution to food insecurity he doesn't try to put any side down unlike the other author. He tires to be equal regarding both sides, the government and those in favor of eliminating food insecurity, stating what the government has done, what the problems are, and other people's say regarding the possible solutions.
Argument: His argument states that though the government is working towards reducing food insecurity, there are other things such as equal rights on land to both men and women farmers, a better way of calculating how much food people need, media going above reviews about diet book and more on the food insecurity issue, and realizing that the global climate affects the poor as well.
Evidence and Discrepancies between "A Further Attack on PDS" and "Fighting for Food Security in India"
1. Both authors stated that India was hiding huge amounts of grains.
2. However, Swaminathan stated that it was 45.5 million tonnes that was hidden while Swain stated that it was 60 million tonnes.
3. The second article stated the supreme court took action against the government stating the need to consider food insecurity.
4. The first article stated that India tried to sell grains to foreigners - however, didn't say where this information came from.
5. Both the authors agreed that there should be a better way of dealing with the public distribution system, Swaminathan stating that there shouldn't be a divide between APL and BPL, while Swain stated that there should be a "stronger, transparent monitoring" system.
6. Article one stated that 47% children between the ages of 0 and 4 are malnourished and 48.5% of adults were malnourished between the years of 1993 and 1994.
7. It also stated that for BPL families, rice and wheat prices increased by 68%. For people APL, the rice prices increased 29%.
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