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The Global Hunger Report is an annual report which is jointly published by two non profits- concern worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. Concern Worldwide is the largest aid and humanitarian agency to be based from Ireland and was formed five decades ago. Welthungerhilfe is a German non-profit which is politically independent and has been working for humanitarian assistance and development cooperation since 1962. The Global Hunger report was created in 2006 originally by Welthungerhilfe and an US based International Food Policy Research Institute but replaced by the Irish non-profit Concern Worldwide only the very next year of 2007.
Global Hunger Report
The Global Hunger Index report is made by assigning a numerical score depending on multiple facets of hunger to provide a comprehensive measure of national, regional, and global hunger. It then ranks countries according to their GHI scores and compares current scores to previous findings as well to reflect on the development or reverse of that observed in the last year. In addition to GHI ratings, the GHI report contains an article each year that addresses a different element of hunger. The report for 2021 focuses on the links between war conflicts and hunger and also presents with some policy recommendations on how to break these links so that peace and food security can be achieved.
India’s Rank and score
India ranked 101 out of the 116 countries that were in the list. India seemed to suffer a loss from its significantly better 94th position last year. Its score is 27.5 making itself placed in the serious category.
Why is it flawed?
According to the Ministry of Woman and Child Development, the Global Hunger Index is flawed and does not reflect the reality of India. According to the concerned ministry, It is a poor measure of ‘Hunger’ as the Global Hunger Index (GHI) does not accurately reflect India’s true reality. It shouldn’t be taken at its word because it’s neither appropriate nor representative of our country’s hunger problem. Technically, out of the four variables only one variable in the report that is undernourishment is closely attributed to hunger. The two indicators, namely stunting and wasting, are the results of dynamic combinations of many other factors including but not limited to sanitation, genetics, environment, and food intake utilisation and hunger. Apart from hunger, the other factors are not regarded as the causative factors for stunting and wasting in the Global Hunger Index making it inherently flawed.
India’s efforts towards addressing hunger prevalent in the country
The government also provided along with the statement that it is undertaking many schemes and initiatives under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme as direct targeted interventions to address the country’s malnutrition problem. All of these programmes address one or more aspects of nutrition and have the potential to improve the country’s nutritional outcomes.
To combat malnutrition, the government has launched Mission Poshan 2.0, which aims to improve nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcomes, with also a focus on adapting practices that promote health, wellness, and disease resistance.
It has been recommended to the states and UTs to promote the use of AYUSH systems to combat malnutrition and related disorders. A programme to facilitate the creation of Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi centres has also been created in order to solve the dietary diversity gap by harnessing indigenous practices in nutritional practices for the Indian people.
To achieve the zero hunger goal, the government of India has enacted the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, which allows up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive highly subsidised food grains through the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), which covers a significant number i.e. a maximum population of 81.35 crore according to the census of 2011. Food grains are distributed to eligible households, which include Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) households and priority homes, at a rate of Rs 1/2/3 per kilogramme for coarse grains, wheat, and rice.
Global scenario reflected in this report
According to the report this year, forty seven out of hundred and sixteen countries which were ranked will fail to achieve low levels of hunger by the targeted year of 2030.
For the last decade, the trend observed was of declining hunger and impoverishment but this year it has increased owing to the global pandemic and also military conflicts in several regions which was also the Global Hunger Index theme this year. It is alarming as it might be the foretelling of worsening of other factors closely related to hunger in the coming years.
Conclusion
Even if the Global Hunger Report and Index is “flawed” as is claimed by the Indian authorities on the matter, it still highlights an important global issue which is long due to be addressed and solved. Global Hunger Report also presents the policymakers with suggestions to improve the situations in their own countries that can be helpful in enhancing the already established systems in place. The true reality might not be reflected in the Global Hunger Report 2021 but the true trend is and sadly for India that trend is a downhill one in the last year.
