Global Hunger Index 2024: India’s Position, Challenges, and Solutions
- The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024, published by Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and Welt Hunger Hilfe (Germany), ranks India at 105th out of 127 countries.
- While there is a slight improvement from India’s 111th position in 2023, the report raises critical concerns regarding hunger and malnutrition, despite India being one of the largest food producers in the world with an impressive output of 332 million tonnes in 2023-24.
- The ongoing disparity between food production and malnutrition indicates deep-rooted issues in India’s healthcare systems, social welfare policies, and nutritional access.
Global Hunger: Lack of Progress
- The GHI 2024 report points to a worrying trend on a global scale, showing that 42 countries are currently experiencing “serious” or “alarming” levels of hunger, with little to no progress in recent years.
- It is predicted that 64 countries may miss the 2030 Zero Hunger target, with global hunger eradication potentially delayed until 2160.
- The stagnation in hunger reduction is attributed to factors like climate change, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the ongoing economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. These have disrupted food systems, supply chains, and aid distribution across the globe.
Read also: Israel-Lebanon War: Causes, and Global Impact | UPSC
Hardest-hit Regions
- The region most affected by hunger is Africa South of the Sahara, where hunger levels are exacerbated by persistent conflicts, economic challenges, and high child mortality rates.
- Since 2016, progress in hunger reduction in this region has been minimal, signaling an urgent need for more sustainable interventions.
India’s GHI 2024 Performance: Key Indicators
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- Rank: 105 out of 127 countries
- GHI Score: 27.3 (on a scale where 0 is best, and 100 is worst)
- Hunger Status: Serious
- Undernourishment Rate: 13.7%
- Child Wasting: 18.7% (children with low weight for height)
- Child Stunting: 35.5% (children with low height for age)
- Child Mortality: 2.9% (deaths of children under five)
India vs. South Asia
- India’s performance contrasts with neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, which have achieved better rankings and fall into the “moderate” hunger category, indicating relatively better outcomes in terms of nutrition.
The Global Hunger Index
- The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a composite tool that measures hunger across different dimensions. The GHI score for each country is derived from four key indicators:
- Undernourishment: Proportion of the population that lacks sufficient caloric intake.
- Child Stunting: Percentage of children under five years who have low height for their age, indicating chronic malnutrition.
- Child Wasting: Percentage of children under five with low weight for their height, a sign of acute malnutrition.
- Child Mortality: Percentage of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting the severe impact of malnutrition and poor living conditions.
Indian Government’s Critique of GHI Methodology
India’s government has raised concerns about the GHI methodology, asserting that it doesn’t provide an accurate reflection of hunger in the country. The government’s key criticisms include:
- Child-Centric Indicators: The GHI relies heavily on child-related indicators (child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality), which the government argues do not represent the overall hunger status of the entire population.
- Undernourishment Data: The undernourishment indicator is based on a limited survey of only 3,000 respondents, which the government claims is not a representative sample for a nation of over a billion people.
- Child Mortality as a Hunger Indicator: The government has questioned the direct correlation between child mortality and hunger, arguing that several other factors, such as healthcare infrastructure and disease, influence child mortality rates.
- Data Discrepancies: The GHI reported a child wasting rate of 18.7%, which conflicts with the Poshan Tracker data, where India recorded a child wasting rate of 2%, highlighting inconsistencies between international reports and national statistics.
Why Hunger Persists in India: Key Challenges
Despite the Indian government’s criticism of the GHI, domestic data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) underscores the persistent issue of malnutrition. The following factors contribute to India’s hunger crisis:
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- Low Productivity from Small Holdings: Nearly 50 million households in India depend on small and marginal landholdings. These holdings face challenges such as soil degradation, fragmented lands, and fluctuating market prices, resulting in declining agricultural productivity.
- Rural Unemployment and Low Income: According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18, rural unemployment was 1%, the highest since 1972-73. Rising food prices and declining purchasing power have reduced access to adequate food.
- Public Distribution System (PDS) Inefficiencies: Corruption, inclusion errors, and technical glitches in the PDS have impeded access to food grains, especially for the poorest sections of society.
- Protein Deficiency: Pulses, a major source of protein, are not sufficiently included in the PDS due to budget constraints. Furthermore, many states exclude eggs from mid-day meal schemes, worsening protein malnutrition.
- Micronutrient Deficiency: Often called hidden hunger, micronutrient deficiencies in India are driven by poor diets and lack of awareness. This crisis is especially severe among pregnant and lactating women.
Government Measures to Combat Hunger
- National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013: This law ensures that 75% of rural and 50% of urban populations receive subsidized food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS).
- POSHAN Abhiyan: Launched in 2018, this initiative focuses on reducing stunting, undernutrition, and anemia among children, adolescent girls, and women through better nutrition and healthcare.
- Food Fortification: The government has initiated fortification of key staples like rice, milk, and salt with essential micronutrients like iron, iodine, and vitamins to address hidden hunger.
- Eat Right India Movement: Spearheaded by FSSAI, this initiative encourages citizens to adopt healthier eating habits and improve food safety.
Recommendations for Addressing Hunger in India
To effectively tackle hunger, a multi-faceted approach is essential. Recommendations include:
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- Boosting Agricultural Productivity for Small and Marginal Farmers: Small-scale farmers need greater support to increase productivity, improve soil health, and ensure fair market prices for their produce.
- Nutritional Supplements in Mid-Day Meals: Mid-day meals in schools and Anganwadi centers must include nutrient-dense foods like eggs and pulses to combat protein and micronutrient deficiencies among children.
- Strengthening Rural Employment Schemes: Programs like MGNREGA should be further expanded to increase rural incomes, providing families with the means to afford adequate food.
- Improving PDS Efficiency: The Public Distribution System must be streamlined by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and addressing technical glitches. The One Nation, One Ration Card scheme should be implemented effectively to improve food access, especially for migrant workers.
Conclusion
Despite significant advances in food production, India continues to grapple with malnutrition and hunger, as highlighted by the Global Hunger Index 2024. Closing the gap between food availability and nutrition will require comprehensive reforms in agricultural policy, healthcare, and food distribution. With sustained effort and targeted interventions, India can better ensure food security and meet its development goals.