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GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX 2024, INDIA RANKED...

Oct 13, 2024
2 min read

In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), India is ranked 105th out of 127 countries, with a GHI score of 27.3, placing it in the "serious" hunger category. This ranking reflects several concerning factors, including an undernourishment rate of 13.7%, a child stunting rate of 35.5%, and a child wasting rate of 18.7% — the highest in the world. Additionally, the child mortality rate stands at 2.9%.


Components of the GHI Score:

  1. Undernourishment (1/3 of the total score)

    • The proportion of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient.

  2. Child Stunting (1/6 of the total score)

    • The percentage of children under five years old who have a low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.

  3. Child Wasting (1/6 of the total score)

    • The percentage of children under five who have a low weight for their height, indicating acute undernutrition.

  4. Child Mortality (1/3 of the total score)

    • The mortality rate of children under five years old, which is often related to hunger and poor nutrition.

GHI Severity Scale:

  • Low: ≤ 9.9

  • Moderate: 10.0 – 19.9

  • Serious: 20.0 – 34.9

  • Alarming: 35.0 – 49.9

  • Extremely Alarming: ≥ 50.0

Government Interventions

  • Eat Right India Movement: An outreach activity organised 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, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls).

  • 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, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

  • Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY): PM-GKAY is considered one of the largest food security programs globally, ensuring that around 80 crore people across India receive necessary food support.

 
 
 

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