Global hunger index 2024: India ranks 105th, signaling a serious food security crisis!

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Malnourished children sitting near a holy river in India, highlighting the ongoing hunger crisis and child malnutrition issues.

Malnourished children by the holy river, symbolizing the urgent need for action against hunger and malnutrition in India.

India has once again struggled with hunger, ranking 105th out of 127 countries in the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI). This ranking reflects the ongoing issues with food security and nutrition that continue to impact millions across the nation.

With a GHI score of 27.3, India is categorized as facing a serious level of hunger, raising concerns about the effectiveness of efforts to combat malnutrition and ensure that no one goes hungry.

What Contributes to India’s GHI Score?

The Global Hunger Index measures hunger using four main indicators. For India, the data tells a troubling story:

  • Undernourishment: About 13.7% of India’s population is undernourished, meaning they do not have access to enough food to meet their daily nutritional needs.
  • Child Stunting: A shocking 35.5% of children under five years old are stunted, which means they are shorter than they should be for their age due to long-term undernutrition.
  • Child Wasting: 18.7% of children under five are wasted, indicating they are dangerously underweight for their height, a sign of severe acute malnutrition.
  • Child Mortality: Unfortunately, 2.9% of children in India die before they reach the age of five, highlighting significant challenges in child healthcare and nutrition.

Trend Over the Years

India’s performance in the Global Hunger Index has not improved in recent years. The situation has been deteriorating:

  • 2023: India ranked 107th with a GHI score of 29.1. Despite efforts to address hunger, the country continued to face major challenges, particularly in child nutrition.
  • 2022: India was again at 107th, with 29.1 as its score, showing stagnation in addressing critical hunger issues.
  • 2021: The country ranked 101st with a GHI score of 27.5, but the struggle with undernourishment and malnutrition remained severe.
  • 2020: India’s position was slightly better at 94th, but the score of 27.2 indicated that hunger and malnutrition were still serious problems.

This consistent decline in rankings shows that while India has made strides in economic growth, these gains have not translated into better outcomes for hunger and malnutrition. Millions, especially children, continue to suffer from a lack of adequate food and proper nutrition.

Explore: Global Hunger Index List 2024

Why is India Struggling?

Several factors contribute to India’s persistent hunger crisis:

  • Inequality and Poverty: While parts of India are flourishing economically, large sections of the population, especially in rural areas, remain trapped in poverty, unable to access enough nutritious food.
  • Health and Sanitation: Poor access to healthcare, clean water, and sanitation worsens malnutrition, especially among children and pregnant women.
  • Climate and Agriculture: India’s agricultural sector, which many people rely on for food, is highly vulnerable to climate change, resulting in food shortages and price increases.
  • Implementation Gaps: Although India has several government programs aimed at reducing hunger, such as the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Poshan Abhiyaan, poor implementation and inefficiencies in distribution often limit their effectiveness.

What Needs to Be Done?

Addressing hunger in India requires urgent action on multiple fronts. Solutions must include:

  1. Improving Nutrition Programs: Programs like Mid-Day Meals and Poshan Abhiyaan need to be strengthened to ensure that more children and mothers receive the nutrition they need.
  2. Boosting Agricultural Resilience: Investing in sustainable farming practices and addressing the impacts of climate change can help ensure that farmers can produce enough food to feed the country.
  3. Expanding Healthcare Access: Providing better healthcare facilities, especially in rural areas, and improving sanitation can help reduce child mortality and malnutrition rates.
  4. Ensuring Fair Distribution: Improving the Public Distribution System and ensuring that food reaches those who need it most is critical to combating hunger effectively.

India’s ranking in the 2024 Global Hunger Index is a stark reminder that despite economic growth, hunger and malnutrition remain critical issues. Millions of children are not getting the nutrition they need to grow and thrive, and many families are struggling to access enough food.

If India is to move forward and improve its GHI ranking in the coming years, hunger and food security must be treated as urgent priorities by policymakers, civil society, and the global community.

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