Global Hunger Index-2023

Global Hunger Index-2023: India's 111th Position

Important for Prelims exams:

National Nutrition Mission (Nutrition 2.0, Nutrition Month), FASSAI, Eat Right India Movement

Important for Mains exams:

GS-3: Malnutrition situation in India and key initiatives of the Government of India

October 13, 2023

Why in news:

  • India has been ranked 111th in the recently released Global Hunger Index-2023.
  • The Global Hunger Index report is released every year by Concern Worldwide of Ireland and Welthungerhilfe organization of Germany.
  • Compared to the 2022 index, India has fallen four places in this index.

Global Hunger Index

Introduction:

  • The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional and national levels.
  • The Global Hunger Index aims to track hunger at the global, regional and country level.

The basis of the Global Hunger Index:

  • It is noteworthy that, under the Global Hunger Index (GHI), ‘hunger and starvation’ around the world is calculated on the basis of four indicators.
  • These include ‘undernutrition’, ‘child wasting’, ‘child stunting’ and ‘child mortality’.
  • This index assesses the severity of hunger on a scale of 100, with 0 being considered the best score, meaning 'no hunger or starvation-like conditions', while 100 is considered the worst score.
  • Undernutrition/Malnutrition: The category of malnutrition in children includes those children who do not gain enough weight or lose weight due to inadequate food, or due to diseases like diarrhea and respiratory diseases.
  • Child stunting: The share of children under five years of age who are short for their age.
  • Child wasting: The share of children under five years of age who are underweight for their height.
  • Child Mortality: Child mortality refers to the untimely death of any child under the age of 5 years.

India's position in GHI 2023 rankings:

  • India is ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the GHI 2023 rankings.
  • With a score of 28.7, the hunger situation in India is severe.
  • India has fallen 4 places from its 107th rank in 2022.
  • The report puts the rate of undernutrition in India at 16.6 percent. Also, the mortality rate of children under five years of age in the country has been estimated at 3.1 percent.
  • The prevalence rate of anemia among women aged 15 to 24 years in India is reported to be about 58.1 percent.

Situation in other countries:

  • In the Global Hunger Index-2023, the situation of its neighboring countries is better than India. In the Global Hunger Index 2023, Pakistan has been ranked 102nd, Bangladesh 81st, Nepal 69th and Sri Lanka 60th.
  • However, the situation of hunger is said to be the most dire in South Asia and the southern part of the Sahara region of Africa, here the GHI score was 27, which indicates 'severe' situation of hunger. Whereas in countries like Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile and China, the situation is said to be better.

India reacts to GHI 2023 rankings:

  • Expressing sharp reaction on the GHI Rankings (2023), the Ministry of Women and Child Development said that the index suffers from serious methodology issues. Three of the four indicators used to calculate the index are based on child health and may not be representative of the entire population. The fourth and most important indicator 'Proportion of undernourished population' is based on a survey conducted on just three thousand people.
  • The central government has reacted sharply to India's ranking in the index, calling it an inaccurate measurement of hunger. This report deliberately ignores the efforts made by the government to ensure food security for the population.

Efforts of Government of India to control hunger:

  • Food Safety and Security Authority of India (FASSAI): Eat Right India Movement
  • ‘Eat Right India’ Movement promotes safe, healthy and sustainable food culture.
  • Nutrition campaign was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which is also known as National Nutrition Mission.
  • Nutrition Month: The sixth National Nutrition Month is being celebrated in September 2023. It aims to promote nutrition understanding across India through a theme focused on “Suposhit Bharat, Saakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat” (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India).
  • Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: It is a major maternity benefit program of the Government of India. Pregnant women are provided cash benefits directly into their bank accounts to meet their nutritional needs.
  • National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013: Under this Act, heavily subsidized food grains are provided to about two-thirds of the country's population. Presently this Act is applicable in all the states and union territories of India.

Conclusion:

  • The Global Hunger Index indicates that by 2015, global hunger remained largely stable, despite improvements.

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Mains Exam Question

Review the major initiatives of the government to tackle the situation of malnutrition in India.