Global Hunger Index, 2021

India has slipped to 101st position in the Global hunger Index 2021, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.

The 2021 Global Hunger Index points to a grim hunger situation fueled by a toxic cocktail of the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly severe and protracted violent conflicts.

Indicators used in Global Hunger Index

Undernourishment: the share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient.
Child Wasting: the share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.
Child Stunting: the share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
Child Mortality: the mortality rate of children under the age of five (probability of dying by age 5 per 1000 live births).

India related Findings

India’s GHI score has decreased from a GHI score of 38.8 points in 2000 (alarming category) to a GHI score of 27.5 in 2021 (serious category).
About 15.3 per cent of population is malnourished, which is an improvement from 19.6 per cent in 2005-07.
Child stunting in India stands at 17.3%, which is slightly higher than it was in 1998-1999, when it was 17.1%. India had the highest child wasting rate of all countries covered in the GHI.
Child stunting has seen a significant decline, from 54.2% in 1998 to 34.7% in 2016-2018, yet it is considered high.
The child mortality rate is 3.4 per cent, a significant drop from 9.2, 7.1 and 5.2 per cent in 2000, 2006 and 2012 respectively.

Criticism by Govt. of India

The Government of India has criticized the index on the basis that it does not reflect India's true picture as it is a flawed measure of 'Hunger'. According to the Ministry of health and family welfare, only undernourishment is directly related to hunger whereas Stunting and Wasting are outcomes of complex interactions of various other factors like sanitation, genetics, environment and utilisation of food intake apart from hunger. Also, there was no evidence of child mortality as an outcome of hunger.

Possibilities and Prospects

Climate resilient agriculture: It can be done by promoting climate-resilient and diversified farming practices and strengthen local markets to generate employment along the food value chain.
People centric Government Interventions: All programs and interventions must be designed keeping the affected people at the center.
Social Protection: Social protection measures such as cash and voucher assistance are essential to enhance the resilience of rural food economies and of households affected by shocks and stressors.
Local capacity Building: Build on local structures, which have the potential to provide the most effective and timely support.
Inclusivity: Address the need for transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation of those who are most vulnerable.