Current Issue
Global Hunger Index Report 2023: A Critical Assessment
Dr. Ramjilal,
Social Scientist, Former Principal, Dyal Singh College, Karnal (Haryana- India)
Email—drramjilal [email protected]
(Samaj Weekly)- At present, innumerable problems exist in the social, economic, educational, and political fields at the global level. The most serious of these problems is the problem of hunger. As a result of hunger various aspects of life are adversely affected and mankind is facing innumerable problems. Unprecedented increasing inequality between the rich and the poor due to capitalism and corporatization, rise in prices, increase in the unemployment rate, and lack of employment opportunities, the impact of the Corona crisis on various aspects of life, climate crisis, Ukraine-Russia war, food, and food items. Due to rising prices of energy and fertilizers, the food security situation is worsening rather than improving. All this has resulted in an increase in the hunger index.
It is estimated that by 2023, every day in the world, 25,000 people, including more than 10,000 children, will die due to hunger and related causes. Around 854 million people around the world are undernourished, and another 100 million are facing poverty and hunger due to rising food prices. Therefore, people urgently need food and nutrients. According to the World Food Programme, 70% of those who will die of hunger worldwide in 2023 are women and girls. Due to food insecurity, girls are seriously affected by hunger, gender-based discrimination, abuse, violence, child marriage, and life-threatening diseases.
(https://planinternational.org/publications/world-hunger-impact-girls/)
According to the World Bank Report, in 2023, 10% of the world’s population will be undernourished and 700 million people will be extremely poor. Globally, 39% of children are underweight, resulting in approximately 3.1 million children dying each year. In other words, one child dies of hunger every 10 seconds. Nearly 100 million children under the age of 5 are malnourished. Asia One-tenth of the total population of India, which is equal to almost half of the world’s population, is vulnerable to malnutrition due to lack of food.
{https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/losing-25000-hunger-every-day#:~:text=Each%20day%2C%2025%2C000%20people%2C%20including,million%20into %20poverty%20and%20hunger.
/ https://www.dchunger.org/hunger-in-dc/consequences-of-hunger-and-poverty/
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-update
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/on-world-hunger-day-in-2023-the-world-is-hungrier-than-ever-301835397.html
https://www.who.int/news/item/06-07-2022-un-report–global-hunger-numbers-rose-to-as-many-as-828-million-in-2021}
The Global Hunger Index has been studied continuously since 2006 by two world-renowned humanitarian non-governmental organizations – Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and Welt Hungerhilfe (Germany). Both these NGOs conduct evaluations on the basis of data sent by the state governments. The Global Hunger Index report is based on scientific methods. This report is prepared on small and narrow sentiments – rising above region, country, religion, language, and color discrimination. The purpose of the report by non-governmental organizations Concern Worldwide and Welt Hungerhilfe is not only to show a mirror to the countries affected by poverty, hunger, and malnutrition but also to give suggestions to improve the situation. It depends on the governments of different countries whether they accept his suggestions and improve the situation or criticize his reports and throw them in the wastebasket. Based on the report, many countries have improved the situation by providing relief to their people.
Scale to Measure and Track Hunger:
At the global level, a formula for measuring hunger has been prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO). In other words, a scale of points has been kept to measure and track hunger, and states are classified accordingly. First, if the score is less than 9.9 then it indicates low hunger. This indicates that The states whose score is less than 9.0. State governments are making continuous efforts to eliminate hunger, malnutrition, and poverty .Second,from 10 to 19. An index up to 9 indicates the ‘medium range’. Third, the scale ranges from 20 to 34.9 points. This is a ‘serious category’. Fourth, a scale of 35 to 35.39 falls in the ‘dangerous category of hunger’.Fifth, a score of more than 50 means that such a state is ‘extremely suffering’ from hunger.
Component Indicators for Calculating GHI Score
The four indicator components used to calculate the GHI score are as follows:
1. Undernutrition: The proportion of the population with ‘inadequate calorie’ intake,
2. Child Dwarfism: The proportion of children under five years of age whose height is less than their age. This is a symbol of ‘chronic malnutrition’.
3. Child Wasting: The proportion of children under five years of age whose weight is less than their height. This is a condition of ‘severe malnutrition’.
4. Child mortality: The proportion of children dying before their fifth birthday, partly reflecting a ‘fatal mix’ of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environment. This score starts from zero and goes up to 100. The higher the score, the more severe the hunger. If the score is from zero to 9.9 then there is either no or very little hunger and if the score is more than 50 then the situation is ‘extremely dangerous’. Global Hunger Index Report 2023: India ranked 111 out of 125 countries.
In 1947, India became independent from British imperialism and the exploitative feudalism of Indian Nawabs and Kings, but due to the backwardness of agriculture, poverty and hunger reigned in India. Food grains started being imported from foreign countries. Former Prime Minister of India Chaudhary Charan Singh wrote in his book (India’s Economic Policy: Gandhian Outline, 1978) that during the period 1965-1967, India was imported under PL 480 by the American government. 45,76,000 metric tonnes of wheat was given as a gift to India. The Government of Canada gifted 2,25,000 metric tonnes of wheat to India, worth Rs 35.8 crore.
(Dr. Ramjilal, ‘India’s rank in the hunger index is serious’, Jag Marg, (Chandigarh and Kurukshetra editions), 21 October 2020, p. 6)
The Indian government considered this an insult and embarrassment in foreign countries. As a result, to become self-reliant in the agricultural sector, the Indian government ordered more productive seeds from Mexico. Along with seeds, fertilizers were also distributed to the farmers and the Green Revolution started in India. As a result of government schemes and the Green Revolution, the problem of hunger and malnutrition has been reduced due to food security in India. Despite this, India’s index in 1992 was 40.2. In other words, India had a ‘very serious situation’ of extreme hunger.
Top Ranked Countries: With Low Levels of Hunger
According to the Global Hunger Report 2023, the top countries in which the hunger index is up to 5 points. The level of hunger among them is low or almost non-existent. According to the report, Belarus ranks first among these countries. After this, there are 20 countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, China, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania etc. In these countries, many policies and programs have been implemented in a planned manner to relieve people from hunger, which can act as a guide for other states. There is a close relationship between hunger and poverty. As hunger reduces, poverty also reduces and people’s lives become happier. As a result, children get relief from wasting and stunting.
Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023: India’s Neighbors
According to the Global Hunger Report 2020, India was ranked 94th in the list of 117 countries. In 2022, India was ranked 107th in the list of 121 countries. In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, India’s neighboring countries Pakistan (102nd), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th) and Sri Lanka (60th) are ranked. India slipped four places from its 107th position in 2022 to 2023.
Countries Ranking Below India
According to the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 report, Timor-Leste, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Chad, Niger, Congo, Yemen, Madagascar, South Sudan, Burundi and Somalia ranked below India. Are countries. That means India’s ranking is better than these countries.
Global Hunger Index 2023 Report: Key Highlights
The main highlights of the report are as follows:
First, according to the Global Hunger Index report released on October 12, 2023, India is ranked 111th in the list of 125 countries, and India’s score of 28.7 points towards the ‘severe category’ of hunger.
Second, the rate of child wasting in India is 18. 7% is the highest in the world whereas it is 14.4% in Yemen, 13.7% in Sudan, 13.6% in Mauritania, 13.1% in Sri Lanka, 12.1% in Mauritius, 11.0% in Bangladesh, 10.9% in Niger and 10.8% in Mali.
Third, according to the report, 16.6% of the population in India is malnourished.
Fourth, 58.1% of women aged 15 to 24 years suffer from anemia, and
Fifth, the mortality rate of children under 5 years of age is 3. Is 1%.
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/world/global-hunger-index-2023-india-reports-highest-child-wasting-rate-slips-4-notches-on-ranking-92282 https:/ /www.unicef.org/child-alert/severe-wasting?gclid= Global Hunger Index 2023 Report: Government of India’s response
On October 12, 2023, the Ministry of Women and Child Development of the Government of India rejected this report outright on the basis of ‘serious methodological issues’ and ‘malicious intentions’. The Ministry of the Government of India argues that out of the four indicators for calculating the information, three relate to the health of children. As a result, it does not represent the entire population of India.
According to the ministry, the fourth indicator in this report is the most important. The indicator ‘Proportion of population undernourished is based on a population survey conducted on a very small sample size of 3000.’ Depends on factors like.
The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development claims that the mobile-based application, Nutrition Tracker, is continuously reporting data every month. Based on this data, it is found that the prevalence of child wasting is among a total of 7.24 crore children under 5 years of age. 7. Child wasting is 24% whereas HGI has stated child wasting as 18.7%. Therefore, 18.7 percent of child wasting recorded in GHI is inappropriate.
The Central Government Ministry, while supporting its view, also argued that the Government has given priority to several programs to tackle the challenge of malnutrition under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Nutrition 2.0 and under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, almost 1118 tonnes of food grains have been provided to 80 crore people in 28 months.
(https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/global-hunger-index-2023-centre-finds-fault-in-methodology-as-india-ranked-below-pakistan-101697165071570.html)
https://www.livemint.com/news/india-slips-in-global-hunger-index-new-delhi-slams-report-11697131298856.html
The Path to end hunger: Passes through farmers’ fields
The following suggestions are presented to overcome hunger:
First, the path to eliminating hunger passes through the farmers’ fields. This is why farmers’ organizations have repeatedly insisted on implementing the recommendations of the Swaminathan Report (2006). To implement this report, the historic movement of farmers on the Delhi border lasted for 378 days in 2020-21. About 750 farmers were martyred in this movement. Although the government withdrew the three agricultural laws, it did not implement the minimum support price (CTU + 50%) based on the Swaminathan report. Farmers should be given the minimum price of crops on the basis of CITU + 50% formula and the increase in prices of agricultural inputs should be prevented. It is very essential to make a law regarding minimum support price. Farmers have been struggling for a long time regarding this demand. Have been doing and are doing. There is a need to stop the wastage of crops and develop infrastructure in rural areas. Most importantly, there is a flood of corruption during floods or famines. In this context, P. Sainath, the famous journalist, father of rural journalism and guardian of Indian farmers, published his book 27 years ago in 1996.
{ Sainath. P, Everybody Loves a Good Drought: Stories from India’s Poorest Districts, Penguin,1996}
It is written that the officials consider floods and droughts (famines) as ‘good’ because they reap their ‘third crop’ ,i.e. about 25 percent of the government funds used for flood and famine relief work, they reap the ‘third crop’ (corruption).It is very important to stop this third crop (corruption).
(Dr. Ramjilal, ‘Poverty, hunger and malnutrition in India: The dark side of the picture of economic development,’ Sajag Samaj, Karnal, December 2017, pp. 5-9 and 15)
Second, the Indian government needs to change its economic policies. Due to the corporatization of the economic system, the gap between the rich and the poor is continuously increasing and it is impossible to eradicate poverty and hunger on the basis of ‘trickle-down theory’. Policy should be abandoned and policies should be made on the basis of socialist thinking.
Third, government health services in the health sector should be strengthened. Viva- Ayushman Bharat Yojana, although it is a great scheme due to the linking of private hospitals with it, the general public is getting less benefits and it is full of corruption due to the nexus of health department officials and doctors. Therefore, this scheme should be implemented in the public sector. Be linked to established hospitals and medical colleges so that healthy services can be available to all citizens.
Fourth, unemployment and hunger also have a mutual relationship. Due to unemployment, problems with food, clothing, housing, education, clean drinking water, and health persist. Therefore, the vacant posts in public sectors should be filled permanently so that the basic needs can be fulfilled.
Fifth, it is absolutely necessary to make the public distribution system fault-free. Mid-day meal has proven to be a boon for the education and health of children. Efforts should be made to make it more nutritious. Increasing the amount of MNREGA will improve rural life. Due to improvement, poverty, hunger, and malnutrition can be eliminated.
Sixth, to implement government policies, the orientation of government employees should be public-friendly. It is necessary to take the strictest action against those employees who are negligent in implementing the policies or indulge in corruption.
Seventh, the most important thing is that the facilities provided by the governments to the capitalists should be closed and put in the public sector and the ‘NPA policy’ adopted by the banks to give relief to the capitalists should be stopped and the banks should be ” Must be saved from “Mundan Sanskar”. In other words, there is a need to stop the neo-liberal policies that were started by Dr. Manmohan Singh (Finance Minister) and Narasimha Rao (Prime Minister) after 1991 and were carried forward by the UPA and NDA governments. Because it has benefited the capitalist class rather than the general public.
In short, the way to eliminate hunger passes through the farmers’ fields. Therefore, there is a need for reforms in the agricultural sector.
