Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024: In-Depth Analysis (GS Paper 3, Economy)
Context
- The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 has cast a spotlight on India’s ongoing challenges with hunger and malnutrition, revealing that the country ranks 105th out of 127 nations, with a GHI score of 27.3, categorizing it in the 'serious' range.
- Despite being one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, India’s struggles highlight an urgent need for effective interventions to address the underlying issues of hunger and malnutrition.
What is the GHI?
The GHI is an annual publication that provides a comprehensive assessment of hunger worldwide, designed to measure and track the issue at global, regional, and national levels. It employs a multidimensional approach to reflect various aspects of hunger, including:
- Undernourishment: The proportion of the population with insufficient caloric intake.
- Child Wasting: The percentage of children under five who have low weight for their height, indicating acute malnutrition.
- Child Stunting: The percentage of children under five who are too short for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
- Child Mortality: The mortality rate of children under five, which serves as an important indicator of the overall health and nutrition status of the population.
The GHI aims to raise awareness about the global struggle against hunger, facilitate comparisons among countries and regions, and draw attention to areas where hunger is most severe and requires urgent action.
Historical Context
- Since its inception in 2006 by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the GHI has evolved into a collaborative effort, currently co-published by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide.
- It serves as a critical tool for policymakers, researchers, and advocates in the fight against hunger.
Highlights of the 2024 GHI
Theme
- The overarching theme for the 2024 GHI is "How gender justice can advance climate resilience and zero hunger."
- This theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of gender equality, climate change, and food security, highlighting that addressing gender disparities is essential for achieving sustainable hunger solutions.
Global Statistics
- The current global GHI score is 18.3, reflecting a slight improvement from the 2016 score of 18.8. However, this improvement is marginal and indicates that significant challenges remain.
- 2.8 billion people globally cannot afford a healthy diet, illustrating the ongoing issue of food insecurity and access.
Regional Disparities
- Sub-Saharan Africa: This region continues to face the highest rates of malnutrition and child mortality. Ongoing conflicts, such as those in Somalia and Sudan, exacerbate the hunger crisis, making humanitarian assistance crucial.
- South Asia: Countries like Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan are grappling with severe hunger challenges, with India particularly highlighted due to its stagnant performance on the GHI.
Critical Issues Identified
The 2024 GHI report outlines several pressing issues:
- Stagnation in Progress: Alarmingly, 42 countries face alarming or serious hunger levels, reflecting a stagnation in the global fight against hunger, despite past progress.
- Gender Disparity: Women face unique challenges related to food insecurity, often stemming from discriminatory social norms and violence that limit their access to resources and decision-making.
- Underlying Causes of Hunger:
- Climate Change: Environmental degradation and climate-related events impact food production, threatening the natural foundations of economies and agricultural systems.
- Armed Conflicts: Conflicts lead to displacement, disruption of food systems, and hinder agricultural cultivation, exacerbating hunger.
- Economic Instability: Many lower-income countries are struggling with debt, which diverts funds away from critical development needs, including hunger alleviation.
Success Stories
- Despite the challenges highlighted, the GHI showcases success stories where countries like Mozambique and Nepal have made significant improvements in their hunger scores since 2016, demonstrating that progress is achievable through targeted and sustained efforts.
Call to Action
- The 2024 GHI underscores the urgent need for coordinated global efforts to address the intersecting crises of climate change, armed conflict, gender inequality, and economic instability.
- It emphasizes supporting vulnerable populations, particularly women, who are critical to the fight against hunger.
India-Specific Findings in the GHI 2024
Alarming Child Malnutrition Rates
India's GHI report highlights severe issues with child malnutrition:
- Stunting: Approximately 35.5% of children under five are stunted, indicating chronic undernutrition. This figure reveals a persistent problem with growth and development that can have lifelong consequences.
- Wasting: About 18.7% of children are wasted, a condition reflecting acute malnutrition that can lead to increased vulnerability to disease and mortality.
- Undernourishment: Around 13.7% of the overall population suffers from undernourishment, illustrating a widespread lack of access to adequate nutrition.
These figures point to a critical lack of adequate nutrition during essential developmental periods, severely impacting children’s physical health and cognitive growth.
Child Mortality Rates
- While there has been some progress in reducing child mortality rates, with 2.9% of children dying before their fifth birthday, the interplay between malnutrition and child mortality underscores the need for immediate and effective interventions.
- Improving nutrition directly influences overall health outcomes, reducing child mortality rates.
India’s Performance Trends in the GHI
Minimal Improvement Over the Decade
- India’s GHI score has only seen minimal improvement, moving from 29.3 in 2016 to 27.3 in 2024.
- This stagnation, despite some progress in specific areas, reflects a persistent hunger issue that requires renewed focus and effective strategies to combat.
Comparison with Neighbors
- When comparing India to neighboring countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh—each of which has fewer economic resources—India's performance on the GHI is particularly concerning.
- This indicates that mere economic growth does not necessarily translate to improved nutritional outcomes, highlighting the need for targeted interventions that address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition.
Addressing Hunger and Malnutrition in India
Need for Comprehensive Solutions
India’s GHI score serves as a stark reminder that economic advancement alone is insufficient for eradicating hunger. A more holistic approach is required to tackle the underlying causes of malnutrition effectively. Key focus areas include:
- Food Security: Ensuring access to nutritious food for all segments of the population is essential for improving health outcomes and reducing hunger. This includes addressing barriers to food accessibility and affordability.
- Healthcare Access: Improving healthcare infrastructure is crucial to significantly impacting maternal and child health outcomes. Access to quality healthcare services can help address malnutrition and related health issues.
- Maternal and Child Nutrition Programs: Investing in targeted nutritional programs for mothers and children is vital for breaking the cycle of malnutrition. Programs that promote breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and access to micronutrients can have profound effects on health.
Current Initiatives
Several initiatives aimed at improving food security and nutrition in India include:
- National Food Security Act (NFSA): Enacted to provide subsidized food grains to approximately two-thirds of India's 1.3 billion people, aiming to alleviate hunger and ensure food security.
- PM POSHAN Scheme: Focuses on providing mid-day meals to school children, not only addressing hunger but also promoting education and improving health outcomes.
- Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Aimed at improving the nutritional and health status of children under six and their mothers through a variety of services, including supplementary nutrition and health education.
Conclusion
- The 2024 Global Hunger Index paints a sobering picture of hunger and malnutrition in India, revealing persistent challenges that must be addressed through comprehensive and targeted interventions.
- While the country has made strides in economic growth, significant gaps remain in ensuring food security and nutritional health for all citizens.
- To effectively combat hunger, India needs a multifaceted approach that incorporates health, education, and economic stability while prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.
- By focusing on effective policy measures and community-based initiatives, India can work towards a future where hunger and malnutrition are effectively addressed, leading to improved health outcomes and enhanced quality of life for its citizens.
- The GHI serves not only as a measurement tool but also as a call to action for all stakeholders involved in the fight against hunger.
