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The following table shows the proportion of adults (aged 15-49 years) whose BMI is below normal (BMI <18.5 kg/m2 ) in India. It is based on a survey of various states for the year 2015-16. Look at the table and answer the following questions.
(i) Compare the nutritional level of people in Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
(ii) Can you guess why around one-fifth of people in the country are undernourished even though it is argued that there is enough food in the country? Describe in your own words.
(a) The above figures represent the nutritional status of the people of Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. According to this, 8.5 percent of men and 10 percent of women in Kerala are undernourished, while 28 percent of men and 28 percent of women in Madhya Pradesh are undernourished. This means that more people in Madhya Pradesh are undernourished.
(b) Despite having sufficient food grains in the country, 20 percent of the people of the country are undernourished because still about 20 percent of the people are below the poverty line. These people are not even able to earn enough to get food for two times. That's why despite the availability of food grains in the country, they are not able to buy it and they remain 'undernourished'.
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