India’s Serious Hunger Crisis in the 2024 Global Hunger Index
The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report places India at a concerning 105th position out of 127 countries, categorizing it among nations facing serious hunger problems. This ranking underscores the ongoing challenge of hunger in India, which continues to lag behind neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, while it remains just ahead of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
India’s 2024 GHI Score Reflects Persistent Hunger
India's GHI score for 2024 stands at 27.3, reflecting a serious hunger situation. The report, jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, highlights that although there has been some improvement in India's hunger levels over the years, the progress is insufficient. The 2024 score marks a slight reduction from India’s 2016 score of 29.3, which also placed the country in the serious category. However, the improvement is modest compared to previous scores of 38.4 in 2000 and 35.2 in 2008, which were categorized as alarming.
The report notes a slight rise in undernourishment in India in recent years, signaling a persistent challenge in ensuring food security for all. Although India has seen progress in reducing its hunger levels since 2000, the current situation is far from satisfactory, especially when compared to its regional counterparts.
Child Malnutrition: A Critical Concern
One of the most alarming findings in the 2024 report is India's severe child malnutrition rates. The country holds the highest child wasting rate globally at 18.7%, indicating a critical issue of acute malnutrition among children under five. Additionally, India’s child stunting rate stands at 35.5%, and the under-five mortality rate is 2.9%. These figures highlight the enduring problem of child undernutrition, which remains a significant public health challenge despite efforts to improve food and healthcare systems.
While India has made strides in reducing child mortality since 2000, the rates of child wasting and stunting continue to pose major hurdles in addressing hunger and malnutrition. The report emphasizes that although stunting has decreased since 2000, both wasting and stunting still reflect critical issues that need urgent attention.
Global Hunger Progress Stagnates
The 2024 GHI report points to a worrying trend of stagnation in global hunger reduction since 2016. Of the 127 countries assessed, 42 are still grappling with serious or alarming hunger levels, making the goal of achieving Zero Hunger by 2030 increasingly out of reach.
Hunger, Climate Change, and Gender Inequality: An Interconnected Crisis
The report also underscores the interconnected nature of hunger, climate change, and gender inequality. Discriminatory norms, gender-based violence, and climate-related impacts often disproportionately affect women, sexual, and gender minorities, making them more vulnerable to food insecurity. This intersectionality hampers their ability to cope with the challenges posed by hunger and climate change, necessitating a more inclusive and gender-sensitive approach to solving these issues.
In conclusion, the 2024 Global Hunger Index highlights India’s persistent struggle with hunger, particularly in the areas of child malnutrition and food insecurity. While progress has been made, the country must address these pressing issues with urgency, particularly in the face of growing global challenges.
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