What’s the news?

• Despite boasting the world’s largest public distribution system and comprehensive food security schemes, India’s standing on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) remains alarming.

Central idea

• The 2022 GHI ranked India a staggering 107 out of 121 nations, trailing behind Nigeria (103) and Pakistan (99). The GHI, encompassing calorie undernourishment, child malnutrition, and under-five mortality dimensions, highlights India’s ongoing battle against these challenges.

Extent of the Issue

• The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report for 2022 reveals a staggering statistic – India is home to approximately 224.3 million undernourished individuals.
• Alarming disparities surface among various states, prompting the utilization of subnational data to develop a more nuanced and localized hunger index.
• By harnessing such data, India can assess the extent of undernourishment at the state and union territory level, a crucial step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals aimed at eradicating hunger and malnutrition.

The State Hunger Index (SHI)

• Indicators: The SHI is derived from the Global Hunger Index (GHI) framework, utilizing four main indicators:
  • Prevalence of stunting, wasting, and under-five mortality among children below five years of age.
  • Body Mass Index (BMI) undernourishment among the working-age population.
• Calorie Undernourishment Replacement: Calorie undernourishment, a GHI indicator, is replaced by BMI undernourishment due to data unavailability post-2012.
• Data Sources: SHI calculations involve data from various sources, including:
  • National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5)
  • Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI)
• Calculation: Normalized values of the indicators are combined using techniques recommended by the GHI.
• Score Range and Categories:
  • SHI scores range from 0 to 100.
  • Higher scores indicate higher hunger levels.
  • The categories of SHI scores are as follows:
    • Below 10: Low hunger
    • 10-20: Moderate hunger
    • 20-30: Serious hunger
    • 30-40: Alarming hunger
    • 50 or above: Extremely alarming hunger

Findings of the State Hunger Index (SHI)

• Alarming Hunger Levels: States like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh have alarmingly high SHI scores of 35, indicating significant hunger levels.
• Moderate Hunger Levels: States such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, Maharashtra, and West Bengal score above the national average (29), indicating moderate hunger levels.
• Lower Hunger Levels: Chandigarh stands out with a notably low SHI score of 12, suggesting relatively lower hunger levels.
• Moderate Hunger Category: States like Sikkim, Puducherry, and Kerala have SHI scores below 16, placing them in the ‘moderate hunger’ category.
• Serious Hunger Concerns: Several states score below the national average but above 20, pointing to serious hunger challenges in these regions.

Calorie Undernourishment: A Critical Challenge

• Deteriorating GHI Score: Over the past few years, India’s Global Hunger Index (GHI) score has worsened primarily due to the increasing prevalence of calorie undernourishment. This underscores the urgent need to address this challenge effectively.
• Escalating Proportions: Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization reveals that the proportion of calorie undernourishment has been on the rise since 2017, reaching a concerning 16.3% in 2020. This trend mirrors statistics from over a decade ago, such as those from 2009.
• Government Disputes and Data Concerns: Despite these alarming figures, the Indian government has raised doubts about the accuracy of the data and methodologies employed in calculating the GHI. However, the absence of empirical evidence to support these disputes leaves room for further clarity.
• Data Limitations: Notably, a challenge in understanding the scale of calorie undernourishment stems from the lack of recent National Sample Survey (NSS) rounds on nutritional intake since 2011-12. This survey previously offered insights into the prevalence of undernourishment at both national and subnational levels.
• Impact on Health and Development: Calorie undernourishment directly affects health and development, leading to weakened immune systems, stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and increased susceptibility to diseases.
• Economic and Social Implications: The persistence of calorie undernourishment has far-reaching socio-economic consequences, hindering productivity, reducing human capital potential, and perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

Way forward

• Urgent Focus on Calorie Undernourishment: Recognize the urgent need to address calorie undernourishment, which has contributed to India’s declining GHI score.
• Reviving NSS Rounds: Prioritize conducting new National Sample Survey (NSS) rounds on nutritional intake to obtain updated and accurate data on undernourishment levels.
• Evidence-Based Approach: Encourage the Indian government to substantiate their concerns about GHI data accuracy with empirical evidence.
• Collaborative Efforts: Collaborate between government agencies, NGOs, researchers, and communities to formulate and implement targeted strategies.
• Alignment with SDGs: Align efforts with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2 focused on eradicating hunger and malnutrition.

Conclusion

• While the GHI is not immune to criticism regarding its methodology and aggregation techniques, it remains a critical tool for gauging undernourishment and child nutrition. Despite strides in reducing extreme poverty, disparities persist in addressing food insecurity, hunger, and child malnutrition. India must prioritize targeted interventions to overcome these challenges and fulfill its commitment to sustainable development.

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