(a) The food procured by the FCI is distributed through government regulated ration shops among the poorer section of the society. This is called the Public Distribution System (PDS).
(b) Fair Price Shops: (i) There are about 4.6 lakh ration shops or fair price shops all over the country
(ii) These are present in most of the localities, villages, towns and cities.
(iii) These shops keep stock of food grains, sugar, kerosene oil for cooking.
(iv) The various items mentioned above are sold to people at a price lower than the market price.
(v) Any family with a ration card can buy a stipulated amount of these items, (e.g. 35 kg of grains, 5 ltrs kerosene etc.) every month from tire nearby ration shop.

These play a role in food insecurity in the following ways:
(i) The SCs, STs and some sections of the OBCs who have either poor land-base or very low land productivity are prone to food insecurity.
(ii) The people affected by natural disasters, who have to migrate to other areas in sear.ch of work. are also among the most food insecure people.
(iii) A large proportion of pregnant and nursing mothers and children under the age of 5 years are food insecure people.

Generally, food security means getting two square meals. But it has following dimesons:
(i) Availability of food: It implies food production within the country, food imports and the previous years stock stored in government granaries.
(ii) Accessibility: It means food is within the reach of every person.
(iii) Affordability : It implies that an individual has enough money to buy sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet one’s dietary needs.

The differences between the overlapping difference and cross-cutting difference are as
mentioned below:
Overlapping difference:-
(i) Overlapping difference leads to social divisions.
(ii) Overlapping differences are difficult to Accommodate.
(iii) There is much difference between two groups e.g., in the US, Blacks are poor, homeless and discriminated. In India, Dalits are poor and landless.
cross-cutting difference:-
(i) It is difficult to pit one group of people against the other because different groups share a common interest on one issue but are likely to be on different sides on different issues’
(ii) Cross-cutting differences are easier to accumulate.
(iii) There is no difference between two groups e.g., in Netherlands Catholics and Protestants are equally poor as well as rich.

Origins of social difference are based on birth and choice as given below:
(i) Social difference based on birth: People cannot take birth in a community or family of their choice. Some are born in rich family, while others in a poor family. Some are blacks while others are whites. So social difference are based on accident of birth. Men do not have any control over these differences.
(ii) Social differences based on choice: Some differences are, however, based on choice’ Some people are atheists. One can choose his own religion. and course of his study. One can choose profession of his own preference. All such choices or preferences lead to social differences.