THE CONTEXT: In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024, India is ranked 105th out of 127 countries, scoring 27.3. With a score of 27.3, India falls into the “serious” hunger category, highlighting substantial food security and nutrition issues that must be addressed.
PARAMETERS USED IN GHI:
The GHI assesses countries based on four key indicators:
- Undernourishment: The proportion of the population with insufficient caloric intake is 13.7% of India’s population is undernourished, indicating a significant portion lacks adequate caloric intake.
- Child Wasting: The percentage of children under five years old with low weight relative to their height, indicating acute undernutrition. India has the highest child wasting rate globally at 18.7%, pointing to severe acute undernutrition among children.
- Child Stunting: The share of children under five with low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition. 35.5% of Indian children under five are stunted, showing widespread chronic undernutrition.
- Child Mortality: The mortality rate of children under five serves as a proxy for the fatal synergy of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments. The under-five mortality rate is 2.9%, reflecting health and nutrition challenges affecting child survival.
THE ISSUES:
- Relationship Between GDP and Hunger: There is not always a direct correlation between a country’s GDP growth and its hunger levels. Despite being one of the world’s fastest-growing economies with substantial GDP growth, India grapples with significant hunger and malnutrition issues.
- Government Concerns: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has raised concerns regarding the data used in the GHI. According to the Poshan Tracker, child wasting rates are consistently below 7.2%, significantly lower than the 18.7% reported in the GHI.
- Researchers’ Perspective: Poshan Tracker data is based on those enrolled in the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and may not represent the entire population. While helpful in monitoring program outcomes, the data is unsuitable for calculating undernutrition prevalence rates in the general population.
- Income Inequality: Economic gains may be unevenly distributed, with wealth concentrated among a small population segment, leaving large portions impoverished.
- Social Exclusion: Due to systemic barriers, marginalized communities might not benefit from economic growth.
- Structural Unemployment: Growth in GDP does not always lead to proportional job creation, affecting people’s ability to afford nutritious food.
THE WAY FORWARD:
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Invest in WASH initiatives to prevent diseases that contribute to malnutrition.
- Maternal Nutrition Programs: Implement programs to ensure adequate nutrition for pregnant and lactating women and reduce instances of low birth weight.
- Healthcare Services: Improve access to quality healthcare for mothers and children, including immunizations and regular health check-ups.
- Inflation Indexing: Adjust allocations to account for inflation, ensuring that programs can provide a diverse and adequate diet.
- Affordability: Implement policies to reduce the cost of nutritious foods, making them affordable for low-income populations.
- Market Access: Enhance infrastructure to connect farmers with markets, reducing food prices and increasing availability.
- Holistic Food Systems Approach: Develop food systems prioritizing nutrition, sustainability, and equity from production to consumption.
- Diversification of Crops: Promote cultivating diverse, nutritious, and ecological food crops, including nutri-cereals like millets, which are rich in nutrients and climate-resilient.
THE CONCLUSION:
The challenge of hunger and malnutrition in India is complex and multifaceted, requiring more than just economic growth to overcome. While India’s GDP has risen significantly, the persistence of hunger indicates that inclusive and targeted strategies are necessary.
UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTIONS:
Q.1 Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle? 2024
Q.2 Hunger and Poverty are the biggest challenges for good governance in India still today. Evaluate how far successive governments have progressed in dealing with these humongous problems. Suggest measures for improvement. 2017
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q.1 Critically examine the factors contributing to India’s hunger situation and the effectiveness of current government measures and suggest a comprehensive strategy to address this issue.
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