23-October-2024-Editorial

GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX (GHI) 2024 AND INDIA’S POSITION

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 reveals that India ranks 105th out of 127 countries, with a score of 27.3.

This score indicates a “serious” hunger crisis, highlighting ongoing challenges related to food insecurity and malnutrition.

What is the Global Hunger Index (GHI)?

The GHI is an annual report published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, aiming to measure and track hunger globally, regionally, and nationally.

• Purpose: It provides a comprehensive overview of hunger, reflecting multiple dimensions over time.
• Scoring System: The GHI score ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 signifies no hunger and 100 indicates the worst level of hunger.

Four Key Indicators of GHI

• Undernourishment: The percentage of the population with insufficient caloric intake necessary for a healthy life, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
• Child Stunting: The proportion of children under five who are shorter than expected for their age, indicating chronic undernutrition.
• Child Wasting: The share of children under five with low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.
• Child Mortality: The percentage of children who die before their fifth birthday, influenced by poor nutrition and unhealthy living conditions.

Key Findings from GHI 2024

India-Specific Findings

• GHI Score: India’s GHI score for 2024 is 27.3, classified as “serious,” showing a slight improvement from 28.7 in 2023.
• Undernourished Children: 13.7% of children are undernourished.
• Stunted Children: 35.5% of children under five are stunted.
• Wasted Children: 18.7% of children are wasted, the highest rate globally.
• Child Mortality Rate: 2.9% of children do not survive until their fifth birthday.

Global Trends

• World GHI Score: The global GHI score for 2024 is 18.3, indicating a “moderate” hunger level.
• Regional Comparisons: Neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have better GHI scores, categorized as “moderate.”
• India’s Efforts Recognized: The report acknowledges India’s initiatives, such as the Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission) and PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY), aimed at improving food and nutrition security.
• GDP Growth vs. Hunger: The report emphasizes that rising GDP does not automatically reduce hunger or improve nutrition, calling for policies that focus on pro-poor development.

India’s Response to GHI 2024

• Methodology Criticism: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has raised concerns about the methodology used, arguing that data from their Poshan Tracker suggests a lower child wasting rate of 7.2%.
• Focus on Children’s Health: The government highlights that three GHI indicators focus on child health, which may not reflect the overall population’s situation.
• Sample Size Concerns: Officials express skepticism about the “Proportion of Undernourished Population” due to the small sample size used in assessments.

Government Initiatives to Combat Hunger

• Eat Right India Movement: Promotes healthy eating habits across the country.
• POSHAN Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission): Aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children and women.
• Mid-day Meal Scheme: Provides free meals to school children to enhance nutrition.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: Offers financial support to pregnant and lactating women.
• National Food Security Act, 2013: Ensures food security for eligible households.
• Mission Indradhanush: Focuses on improving immunization coverage.
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme: Provides food, preschool education, and primary healthcare.

Challenges Related to Hunger in India

• Public Distribution System (PDS) Issues: Despite improvements, the PDS struggles to reach all intended beneficiaries, with over 90 million eligible people missing out on legal entitlements.
• Income Inequality and Poverty: Significant income disparities persist, despite progress in reducing poverty; this impacts food accessibility for many.
• Nutritional Challenges: The focus often remains on calorie sufficiency rather than overall nutritional quality.
• Urbanization Effects: Rapid urbanization is changing food systems, with a study indicating that 51% of urban slum households in Delhi face food insecurity.
• Gender Disparities: Women and girls often experience unequal access to food within households, exacerbating malnutrition issues.

Way Forward

• Enhancing PDS: Revise the Public Distribution System to improve transparency and accessibility to nutritious food for disadvantaged groups.
• Social Audits and Awareness Programs: Implement social audits for school meal schemes and establish community-driven nutrition education programs in local languages.
• Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Integrate efforts towards SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) to promote sustainable food practices.
• Investment in Agriculture: Focus on diverse food production, including nutri-cereals, and address food wastage by improving storage infrastructure.
• Health Investments: Enhance maternal and child health through better sanitation and hygiene practices.
• Interconnected Policy Approaches: Recognize and address the relationships between gender, climate change, and nutrition in policy-making to improve public health and social equity.

Conclusion

India’s position in the Global Hunger Index highlights critical issues related to food security and nutrition. While there are significant efforts underway to address these challenges, comprehensive strategies and reforms are essential for improving hunger outcomes in the country.