Why is it in the news?

• The Global Hunger Index 2024 reveals a “serious” level of hunger in India, ranking it 105th among 127 countries with a score of 3. This score indicates significant hunger issues, as scores below 9.9 represent low hunger levels, while those above 50 are considered extremely alarming.

More about the news

• The index evaluates hunger based on four key indicators: child stunting, undernourishment, child wasting, and child mortality.
• The report indicates that 7% of the population is undernourished, 35.5% of children are stunted, 18.7% are wasted, and 2.9% of children die before their fifth birthday. Notably, India has the highest rate of child wasting globally.
• However, the report acknowledges India’s “significant political will” to improve the food and nutrition landscape, citing initiatives like the National Food Security Act and Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission).
• It highlights an intergenerational pattern of undernutrition, linking maternal nutrition to children’s health, emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions.
• The report underscores that the relationship between GDP growth and hunger reduction is not always straightforward. It stresses that economic growth alone does not guarantee improved food security for all and calls for policies that prioritize pro-poor development and address social inequalities.
• To combat hunger, the report proposes a multifaceted strategy, including improved access to social safety nets, cash transfers, and investments in agriculture. It advocates for a holistic approach to food systems that promotes diverse, nutritious production, including nutri-cereals like millets.
• Furthermore, it stresses the importance of enhancing mother and child health through improved water, sanitation, and hygiene measures, while considering the connections between food, nutrition, gender, and climate change.
• However, concerns have arisen regarding the data collection methodology used in the Global Hunger Index. The Ministry of Women and Child Development previously criticized the data for not being sourced from its Poshan Tracker application, which indicated a child wasting rate consistently below 2%.
• However, researchers assert that the data utilized aligns with established methodologies and is vetted for inclusion in the Joint Malnutrition Estimates and the WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition.
• They argue that maintaining consistency in data sources is crucial for comparability across countries and for the integrity of the index rankings.