According to the Global Hunger Index, India has dropped to 102 out of 117 countries which is worse than countries like Pakistan and Nepal.
New Delhi| Malnutrition is a prominent issue in our country. 38% of children under the age of 5 are stunted that is they are too short for their age. 36% are underweight and around 21% of them are wasted that is.. these kids are too thin for their height, which is a clear sign of acute under-nutrition.
According to the Central government, the Union Ministries of Women and Child Development as well the Food and Public Distribution have mandated the distribution of fortified wheat flour, rice, oil and double fortified salt in their respective schemes that include Integrated Child Development Services and Mid-Day Meal scheme. But how are they being genuinely implemented?
India slips at 102nd place on Global Hunger Index
According to the Global Hunger Index, India has dropped to 102 out of 117 countries. India is positioned only 15 places above the Central African Republic which the country with the most severe hunger problem. Even a country like Pakistan has its score more than India. Which shows how India’s score point has also dropped globally. If compare that to previous years, India’s score has dropped from 38.9 in 2005 and 32 in 2010, to 30.3 in 2019.
What exactly is the Global Hunger Index?
It is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels. The index scores are calculated every year to assess progress and setbacks in combating hunger. This hunger index is designed to mainly raise awareness and understanding of the struggle for hunger between countries and regions. And how it is important to raise a call for attention to those areas of the world where hunger levels are the highest and where immediate need for attention is a must.
4 major indicators on Global Hunger Index:
1. UNDERNOURISHMENT: the share of the population that is undernourished (that is, whose caloric intake is insufficient)
2. CHILD WASTING: the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is, who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition)
Also Read: HW Exclusive: 1200 quintals of food grains wasted meant for mid-day meals
3. CHILD STUNTING: the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that is, who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition)
4. CHILD MORTALITY: the mortality rate of children under the age of five (in part, a reflection of the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments)
Despite ‘Swachha Bharat’ Open Defecation still practised:
In the report, it talks about how India’s child wasting rate is extremely high at 20.8% which is the highest wasting rate of any country in this report. In India, just 9.6% of all children between 6 and 23 months of age are fed a minimum acceptable diet. Well, the report was very critical about the current Modi govt as well. In 2014 the prime minister instituted the “Clean India” campaign to end open defecation and ensure that all households had latrines. It further said that even with new latrine construction, however, open defecation is still practised. And how this situation jeopardizes the population’s health and consequently, children’s growth and development as their ability to absorb nutrients is compromised.”
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