The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) has raised serious concerns over the state of malnutrition in India. Highlighting the extent of malnutrition and food insecurity, the report reveals some alarming statistics. Notably, the estimated 200 million malnourished population in India is almost equal to the entire population of Brazil and accounts for about 14% of India’s total population. As per the 2024 GHI report, India is ranked 105th out of 127 countries, classified in the ‘serious’ category. Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation focused on eradicating poverty and alleviating suffering in the world’s poorest countries. Welthungerhilfe, founded in 1962 as the German branch of the “Free from Hunger Campaign”, is a private aid organisation based in Germany. Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organization focused on addressing poverty and alleviating suffering in the world’s poorest countries. Welthungerhilfe, founded in 1962 as the German branch of the “Freedom from Hunger Campaign,” is a private aid organization based in Germany.
What is GHI
- The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a peer-reviewed report, published on an annual basis by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
- The GHI is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels, reflecting multiple dimensions of hunger over time.
- The GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger – 0 is the best score (implies no hunger) and 100 is the worst.
Four Component Indicators
- Undernourishment: The share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient; It refers to Insufficient calorie intake to sustain a healthy life, as defined by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- Child Stunting: The share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition;
- Child Wasting: The share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition; and
- Child Mortality: The share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.
Key Findings of the Report
India-Specific Findings: GHI Score (2024) – 27.3 (‘serious’) slightly improved from GHI Score (2023) – 28.7 (‘serious’).
- Undernourished children – 13.7%
- Stunted children – 35.5%
- Wasted children – 18.7% (highest globally)
- Child mortality rate – 2.9%
Global Trends in GHI 2024
- The 2024 GHI score for the world is 18.3, a slight improvement from 18.8 in 2016, and is considered “moderate.”
- South Asian neighbours like Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka perform better, ranking in the “moderate” category.
- Recognizing India’s Efforts: The report acknowledges India’s significant efforts to improve the food and nutrition landscape through various initiatives such as Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission), PM Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY), National Mission for Natural Farming.
- Insufficient GDP Growth: The report highlights that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth does not guarantee reduced hunger or improved nutrition, urging the need for policies focused on pro-poor development and addressing social and economic inequalities.
India’s Response to GHI 2024
- Faulty Methodology: The Ministry of Women and Child Development criticized the absence of data from their Poshan Tracker, which reportedly indicates a much lower child wasting rate of 7.2%.
- Focus on Child Health: The government noted that three out of the four GHI indicators pertain to children’s health and may not provide a complete representation of the entire population.
- Small Sample Size: The government expressed doubts about the accuracy of the “Proportion of Undernourished Population” indicator, as it is based on a small sample size opinion poll.