Cause & Effect — Identify the Relationship:\nI. The government has started a mid-day meal system to provide a free meal to all students in government schools.\nII. Undernourishment among children is a widespread problem in the country.\nWhich option best captures the causal link between I and II?

Introduction / Context:
The prompt presents a public-policy initiative (a free mid-day meal scheme) and a social-health condition (widespread child undernourishment). The task is to determine which statement is the cause and which is the effect.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• I: Mid-day meals are started to provide free meals to all students in government schools.
• II: Undernourishment in children is widespread across the country.
• Assume routine policy logic: governments typically launch nutrition schemes to combat observed malnutrition.

Concept / Approach:
Cause precedes and logically explains an action. Here, the policy (I) plausibly responds to a pre-existing problem (II). Therefore II → I aligns with standard cause–effect reasoning in social policy.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Reverse mapping (I causes II) would mean offering meals made undernourishment widespread, which is implausible and contradicts intent. Treating them as independent lacks explanatory power and ignores clear problem–response structure.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Assuming any two policy facts are independent; ignoring that social schemes typically target pre-identified deficits (nutrition, attendance).

Final Answer:
Option B: Statement II is the cause and statement I is its effect.