Global Hunger Index,2023

IN NEWS

• Recently, Global Hunger Index 2023 was released by Concern Worldwide (Irish NGO) and Welt Hunger Hilfe (German NGO).
• India has been placed at 111th position out of 125 countries. In the Global Hunger Index(GHI) 2022, India was placed at 107th position out of 121 countries.
• The Women and Child Development Ministry has said that the global hunger index suffers from “serious methodological issues and shows a malafide intent”.

ABOUT GHI

• Objective: To comprehensively measure and track global, regional, and national hunger.
• Published by: Concern Worldwide and Welt Hunger Hilfe
• Significance: The report attempts to “raise awareness of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) that endeavors to achieve ‘Zero Hunger’ by 2030.
• Scores: The GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger, where zero is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst.

GHI-CALCULATION METHODOLOGY

The GHI score of each country is calculated based on a formula combining four indicators that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger.

KEY FINDINGS OF THE GHI(2023)

Global Hunger Trends

 India’s Performance in GHI 2023

 CRITIQUE OF GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX

• Methodological Issues:
  • Overemphasis on Child Health: India argues that the GHI heavily relies on child health indicators, with 3 out of 4 indicators pertaining to child health.
  • This narrow focus doesn't adequately represent the entire population, as hunger affects people of all age groups.
  • India contends that adult and elderly populations also face food insecurity and malnutrition, and these factors are not sufficiently addressed in the GHI.
• Sample Size Issue:
  • Proportion of Undernourished Population: The GHI relies on a relatively small sample size of 3,000 individuals to estimate the "Proportion of Undernourished Population" for a country with a population in the billions.
  • Such a small sample size might not accurately reflect the diverse dietary habits and nutritional status of the entire population. This can lead to skewed and unreliable results.
• Child Wasting Discrepancy:
  • India raises concerns about a significant disparity in child wasting rates between the GHI 2023 report and India's own Poshan Tracker.
  • The Poshan Tracker consistently reports child wasting rates below 7.2 percent, while the GHI 2023 indicates a much higher rate of 18.7 percent.
  • This inconsistency suggests a potential problem with data collection and analysis methods.
• Undue Link with Child Mortality:
  • The Indian government challenges the notion that child mortality is solely an outcome of hunger.
  • It argues that child mortality is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including healthcare access, sanitation, and overall public health.
  • While malnutrition can be a contributing factor, it may not be the sole or primary cause of child mortality in all cases.
  • The GHI's focus on child mortality as an indicator of hunger may oversimplify the causes of child mortality.
• Contextual Factors:
  • India highlights that the GHI does not adequately account for the diverse cultural, regional, and economic variations within the country.
  • Different regions in India face different levels of food insecurity, and the GHI's methodology may not effectively capture these variations.
• Government Initiatives:
  • India has implemented several government programs and initiatives to address hunger and malnutrition, such as the National Food Security Act, Integrated Child Development Services, and the Poshan Abhiyaan.
  • These efforts are aimed at improving nutrition and reducing hunger, and India argues that they should be considered in the evaluation of the country's hunger situation.
• Progress Over Time:
  • India has made significant progress in reducing hunger and malnutrition over the years.
  • The GHI, by not taking into account trends and improvements over time, may not accurately represent the current state of hunger in the country.

CAUSES OF HUNGER IN INDIA

• Declining agriculture output from small and marginal holdings- 
  • Almost 50 million households in India are dependent on small and marginal holdings.
  • However the agricultural productivity of these holdings is declining due to reduced soil fertility, fragmented lands and fluctuating market prices. 
• Declining income levels-
  •  The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18 has revealed that rural unemployment stood is at 6.1 per cent, which is the highest since 1972-73.
  • These have adverse effects on the capacity to buy adequate food, especially when food prices have been on the rise.
• Ineffective implementation of PDS scheme- 
  • PDS scheme is not functioning well in many states due to corruption and inclusion errors.
• Protein hunger- 
  • Pulses are a major panacea to address protein hunger. However, there is a lack of budgetary allocation for inclusion of pulses in PDS.
  • Also there is no inclusion of eggs in the mid-day meal menus of many states.
• Micro-nutrient deficiency (hidden hunger)- 
  • India faces a severe crisis in micro-nutrient deficiency due to poor dietary intakes, prevalence of diseases & non-fulfilment of increased micro-nutrient needs during pregnancy and lactation.
• Gender Inequality and Nutritional Disparities: 
  • Gender-based disparities exacerbate the problem of hunger and malnutrition in India.
  • Women and girls often experience unequal access to food within households, receiving smaller portions or lower-quality diets.
  • This inequity, coupled with the demands of maternal and child care, exposes them to higher nutritional risks, leading to chronic undernutrition.
• Climate Change and Environmental Stressors: 
  • India is susceptible to climate change-related environmental stressors, such as changing weather patterns, extreme weather events, and natural disasters.
  • These factors can disrupt agricultural production, leading to crop failures and food scarcity.
• Lack of Audit for Nutritional Programmes:
  • Although a number of programs with improving nutrition as their main component are planned in the country, there is minimal or no nutritional audit mechanism at local governance level.

GOVT.INITIATIVES TO TACKLE HUNGER

1. Eat Right India Movement: The Eat Right India Movement is an initiative by the Indian government to promote safe and healthy food choices, aiming to reduce hunger and malnutrition by emphasizing the importance of nutritious diets and food safety practices.
2. POSHAN Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission): POSHAN Abhiyan is a flagship program focusing on improving the nutritional status of women and children in India. It provides a range of services and interventions to combat malnutrition, emphasizing the need for a well-balanced diet and proper nutrition for pregnant women and young children.
3. Mid-day Meal (MDM) scheme: The Mid-day Meal scheme is a government program that provides free meals to school children to encourage school attendance and improve their nutritional status. It aims to address hunger and malnutrition among school-going children.
4. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: This scheme, also known as the Maternity Benefit Program, provides financial assistance to pregnant and lactating women to ensure better nutrition and healthcare during their motherhood period, addressing the health and nutritional needs of women.
5. National Food Security Act, 2013: The National Food Security Act, 2013, commonly referred to as the Right to Food Act, seeks to provide subsidized food grains to eligible beneficiaries through the Public Distribution System, ensuring that vulnerable and low-income populations have access to essential food items at affordable prices.
6. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme: ICDS is a comprehensive program aimed at addressing the holistic development and nutritional needs of children below six years of age. It provides a package of services, including supplementary nutrition, healthcare, and early childhood education, to reduce malnutrition and support healthy growth and development.
7. PM Garib Kalyan Yojna: The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana is a government initiative that includes various components to support the socio-economic well-being of economically vulnerable sections of society. It involves providing food security and financial assistance to alleviate the effects of economic hardships, helping reduce hunger and poverty.

WAY FORWARD

• Sustainable Agriculture Practices:
  • Implement sustainable farming methods that promote soil health and reduce the use of chemical inputs, ensuring long-term land fertility and minimizing the environmental impact.(Eg: Sikkim Organic Mission)
• Rural Employment Generation:
  • Create job opportunities in rural areas to alleviate unemployment and boost household incomes, reducing economic vulnerability.(Eg: MNREGA)
• Technology-Driven PDS Reforms:
  • Utilize technology, such as biometric authentication and mobile tracking, to enhance the efficiency of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in ensuring food reaches those in need, while reducing corruption and leakages.
  • The Rajasthan government's Bhamashah Yojana, for instance, uses biometric authentication and digital systems to reduce corruption and ensure food and benefits reach the right beneficiaries, optimizing the PDS.
• Nutrition-Specific Programs:
  • Develop targeted nutrition programs to address specific dietary deficiencies among vulnerable groups, thereby improving overall health and well-being.
  • A case in point is the 'Take-Home Ration' program by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which provides nutrient-rich food packages to pregnant and lactating women, focusing on their unique nutritional needs to combat malnutrition.
  • Mobile Nutritional Clinics: Implement mobile nutritional clinics that visit remote and underserved areas to provide health assessments, dietary counseling, and supplementary feeding for children and pregnant women.
• Women's Self-Help Groups:
  • Promote women's economic empowerment through self-help groups, microfinance, and collective bargaining power, leading to greater financial independence and gender equality.(Eg: Kudmabashree of Kerala)
• Climate-Resilient Agriculture:
  • Encourage agricultural practices and crop varieties that are resilient to climate change and extreme weather events, ensuring food security despite climatic challenges.
• Education and Awareness Campaigns:
  • Conduct campaigns and educational programs that raise awareness about nutrition and sustainable farming practices, fostering a culture of better nutrition and dietary choices.
  • An example is the "Swasth Bharat Yatra" campaign, which educates people about healthy eating habits and encourages them to make informed nutritional choices.
• Food Banks and Anti-Waste Initiatives:
  • Establish food banks and initiatives to collect surplus food and distribute it to those in need, reducing food wastage and addressing food scarcity.
  • The Feeding India initiative collects excess food from events and restaurants, redistributing it to the hungry, thus minimizing food wastage and hunger.
• International Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with international organizations and neighboring countries to access technical expertise and resources to address food security and malnutrition, benefiting from shared knowledge and resources.
  • India collaborates with the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF, for instance, to access technical expertise and resources to improve food security and nutrition for vulnerable populations, particularly in times of crisis.

CONCLUSION

Addressing hunger in India is a long-term endeavor that requires a sustained commitment from the government, civil society, and international partners. A comprehensive approach that tackles the root causes of hunger and malnutrition is essential to making significant progress in improving the food security and nutritional well-being of the Indian population.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q: Comment on the findings of Global Hunger Index,2023.

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