It’s a matter of real shame that India should rank as low as 97 of 118 developing nations in the global hunger index. The only ones below India are extremely poor African nations. It’s hardly any consolation that other South Asian countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan rank even lower. No matter where the economy lies in terms of size — India is poised to be the world’s third largest economy in the next decade — it’s most humbling to learn we fare so poorly as a society when it comes to the millions of people rated undernourished: 187 million to be precise. India also fares poorly on other indices like wasted (low weight in relation to a child’s height) and stunted children below 5, and the infant mortality rate.
Statistically, India may have improved marginally over the years, but in malnourished and undernourished children we appear to be a world leader. As a society we are guilty of not paying attention to our children. No matter how poor sections of the population may be, they have to look after their children’s dietary needs better. Of course, we fund two big programmes on children’s nutrition through ICDS and the mid-day meal scheme that keeps more young children in schools, serving the other great need of the young, which is education. This might take a great national effort, but if we can provide all young children a nutritious breakfast and lunch in school, we can do much better in such indices, which essentially show how much nations care for their future generations.
