Global Hunger Index 2023 Insights: India’s Status and Challenges

Context:  

• This article is based on an Editorial “India ranks 111 out of 125 countries in Global Hunger Index 2023” which was published in the Hindu. In the recently released Global Hunger Index 2023, India ranked 111th out of 125 countries.
• The Indian government, though, raised questions over flawed methodology.

Global Hunger Index 2023 Overview

Table: Global Hunger Index 2023 Insights for India; 

What methodology are used in the determination of the Global Hunger Index 2023?

• GHI Score = Undernourishment ( ⅓) + Child Stunting (⅙) + Child wasting (⅙) + Child mortality (⅓) 
• Indicators Covered:  Quantity, quality, and utilization of food and are used to measure progress against the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Based on: The latest published data available from internationally recognized sources such as FAO, UNICEF, WHO, WB, DHS, UNIGME.

Global Hunger Index 2023; Concerns raised by India

• Methodological Issues: The government claims that the Global Hunger Index 2023 suffers from serious methodological issues, questioning the reliability of the index as a measure of hunger.
• Small Sample Size for Key Indicator: The Proportion of Undernourished population, is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3,000.
• Data Discrepancy with Poshan Tracker: Discrepancy is observed between the data of GHI‘s reported child wasting rate (18.7%) and the Poshan Tracker (below 7.2%).
• Limited Representativeness: Three out of the four used indicators of the Global Hunger Index 2023 are related to the health of children and not of the entire population.
• Complexity of Stunting and Wasting Indicators: The government contends that indicators like stunting and wasting are outcomes of complex interactions involving factors such as sanitation, genetics, environment, and food intake utilization, in addition to hunger.
• Questioning Child Mortality as an Outcome of Hunger: The government stated that there is hardly any evidence to support the assumption that child mortality is an outcome of hunger.

What are the government schemes to reduce hunger?

• Eat Right India Movement: An outreach activity organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for citizens to nudge them towards eating right.
• POSHAN Abhiyan: Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2018, it targets to reduce stunting, undernutrition, and anemia .
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: A centrally sponsored scheme executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, is a maternity benefit programme being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.
• Food Fortification: Food Fortification or Food Enrichment is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.
• National Food Security Act, 2013: It legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.
• Mission Indradhanush: It targets children under 2 years of age and pregnant women for immunization against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD).
• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme: Launched in 1975, the ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services to children in the age group of 0-6 years and pregnant and lactating mothers.

Also read: Food Processing Industry In India

Conclusion

Whatever be the measures and indicators used in any ranking, but to enhance its position, every country needs to work upon it. Similarly, India’s low ranking in Global Hunger Index 2023 should be taken as a reminder to further work in the desired direction to ensure the hunger free India and well-being of its citizens.