India’s Hunger Index in 2024 and the Urgent Need for Solutions
India’s position in the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) reflects significant challenges in food and nutrition security. Ranked 105th out of 127 countries, the country faces a “serious” level of hunger with a GHI score of 27.3. Despite some progress since 2000, indicators such as child malnutrition remain deeply concerning. With 35.5% of children under five stunted, 18.7% wasted (the highest globally), and 13.7% of the population undernourished, India’s path towards achieving the United Nations’ Zero Hunger goal by 2030 seems increasingly unlikely. While India’s overall economic growth has been steady, the data indicates that growth alone has not translated into equitable food security. Socioeconomic disparities and gaps in policy implementation continue to impact nutrition outcomes. India performs worse than several neighboring countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which have achieved better hunger scores despite having fewer economic resources. The report further emphasizes that achieving food security will require addressing systemic issues such as gender inequality and climate change. Solutions include improving maternal nutrition, ensuring better access to healthy diets, and expanding social safety nets. However, without urgent intervention, the goal of Zero Hunger may remain unattainable for many nations, including India. It’s a call to action for policymakers to focus on sustainable and inclusive food systems to reverse this trend and address the nutritional crisis at its roots. Key Findings from the 2024 Global Hunger Index The GHI measures hunger levels using four critical indicators: Undernourishment: 13.7% of India’s population suffers from insufficient caloric intake. Child Stunting: 35.5% of children under five have low height for their age, signaling chronic undernutrition. Child Wasting: 18.7% of children under five experience wasting, or low weight for height, indicating acute malnutrition—the highest rate in the world. Child Mortality: 2.9% of children do not survive beyond their fifth birthday, often due to malnutrition and related illnesses These statistics point to deep-seated nutritional challenges that hinder sustainable development. Although there has been an improvement since the 2000 GHI score of 38.4, India continues to struggle with malnutrition, a complex issue linked to maternal health, poverty, and public health policies Economic Growth Without Inclusive Nutrition Outcomes India’s growing economy has not effectively translated into better food security. While the nation has seen increased food production and GDP growth, unequal access to food and inefficient distribution systems undermine these gains. For instance, caloric loss at the retail level and income disparities contribute to rising undernourishment levels, despite higher food availability. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economic activity, exacerbating poverty and food insecurity. The pandemic exposed the fragility of social protection systems and emphasized the need for targeted policies that cater to vulnerable communities. Regional Comparison: India vs. Neighbors In South Asia, India’s performance on the GHI is overshadowed by better-ranked neighbors like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. These countries have shown significant progress in tackling hunger, despite facing similar socioeconomic challenges. India’s ranking just above Pakistan and Afghanistan reflects its ongoing struggle with chronic malnutrition and undernourishment.This regional comparison underlines the need for stronger nutrition policies and more efficient public health interventions. Countries with fewer resources have outperformed India by adopting targeted strategies, demonstrating that political will and effective implementation can yield significant results. Systemic Challenges: Gender Inequality and Climate Change The report highlights several systemic barriers to achieving food security, including gender inequality. Women and children in marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by hunger. Malnourished mothers are more likely to give birth to undernourished children, perpetuating a vicious cycle of hunger across generations. Climate change further complicates the issue by increasing agricultural vulnerability and disrupting food supply chains. The GHI emphasizes the need to build climate-resilient food systems and address inequalities to ensure sustainable progress towards Zero Hunger. Initiatives Already in Place While India has initiated several programs to address hunger and malnutrition, implementation challenges remain. Some notable efforts include: National Food Security Act (NFSA): Provides subsidized food grains to a large portion of the population. Poshan Abhiyan: Aims to reduce child stunting, wasting, and anemia through community-based interventions. PM Garib Kalyan Yojna: Offered food assistance during the pandemic, supporting vulnerable groups. Targeted Strategies for India to Improve Its Hunger Index Ranking The GHI report suggests that maternal health improvement is key to breaking the cycle of undernutrition. It also recommends expanding social safety nets, improving food distribution systems, and ensuring better healthcare for children and pregnant women. Expanding and Strengthening the Public Distribution System (PDS): Improve the efficiency of food grain distribution by reducing wastage and leakage. Utilize Aadhaar-linked tracking systems to ensure food reaches intended beneficiaries. Scaling Up Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission): Focus on reducing child malnutrition by addressing maternal health and anemia. Target interventions towards the most vulnerable states and districts identified through NFHS (National Family Health Survey) data. Fortification of Staples: Fortify essential foods like wheat, rice, and edible oils with iron, folic acid, and other nutrients to combat micronutrient deficiencies, especially among children and pregnant women. Consider Community Milling of whole wheat to include the fortification staples in the rural areas. Addressing Regional Inequalities: Focus on states with the highest hunger rates, such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Develop state-specific policies that align with local needs and agricultural practices. Incorporating Millets and Traditional Foods: Promote millets and indigenous crops through government schemes like the National Food Security Mission. These crops are more nutritious and climate-resilient, helping combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Better Implementation of Anganwadi Services: Strengthen Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) by ensuring adequate supply and monitoring of nutrition packages for children under five. Focus on capacity-building for Anganwadi workers to improve service delivery. Leveraging MGNREGA for Nutrition Security: Link employment schemes like MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) with nutrition programs. Wages can be supplemented with food supplies to improve household nutrition security. Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices: Promote sustainable farming practices and incentivize small farmers to diversify crops beyond staples. Integrate climate-resilient technologies to address food security in vulnerable regions affected by erratic weather patterns. Focused Nutrition Programs in Urban Slums: Extend urban nutrition