Global Hunger Index 2023: A Call for Action

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is an annual report published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe that measures and tracks hunger at global, regional, and national levels. The GHI score is calculated using a formula that takes into account four indicators: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. A higher GHI score indicates a more severe level of hunger.

The GHI 2023 report was released on October 12, 2023, and it showed that the global prevalence of hunger has remained relatively unchanged since 2015, with around 828 million people going hungry each day. However, the report also noted that the situation is worsening in many parts of the world due to factors such as conflict, climate change, and economic shocks.

Key findings of the GHI 2023 report:

The world hunger level is still considered moderate, with a GHI score of 18.3. However, this score has not improved significantly since 2015, indicating that progress on hunger reduction has stalled.
The prevalence of undernourishment has increased from 572 million to approximately 735 million people since 2017.
The GHI attributed the stagnation in progress on hunger reduction to a number of factors, including climate change, conflicts, economic shocks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war.
The GHI 2023 report identified the Central African Republic, Yemen, and Madagascar as the three countries with the highest levels of hunger.
The report also found that South Asia and Africa south of the Sahara are the two regions with the highest levels of hunger, with GHI scores of 27 each, indicating serious hunger.

India's performance in the GHI 2023 report:

India ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the GHI 2023 report, with a score of 28.7, indicating a serious level of hunger. This is a slight decline from India's ranking of 107th in the GHI 2022 report.

India's GHI score is higher than the average score for South Asia (27), and it is also higher than the scores of neighboring countries such as Pakistan (102nd), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th), and Sri Lanka (60th).

Causes of hunger in India:

There are a number of factors that contribute to hunger in India, including:

Poverty: India is home to the world's largest population of poor people, with over 220 million people living below the national poverty line.
Inequality: India is a highly unequal country, with a small minority of the population controlling a large share of the country's wealth. This inequality can lead to food insecurity for the poor and vulnerable.
Lack of access to food: Many people in India do not have access to enough food, either because they live in remote areas or because they cannot afford to buy food.
Malnutrition: Even people who have access to food may not be getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy. This can lead to malnutrition, which can weaken the immune system and make people more susceptible to diseases.
Climate change: Climate change is making it more difficult for farmers to produce food, and it is also leading to more extreme weather events such as droughts and floods, which can damage crops and livestock.

What can be done to address hunger in India?

There are a number of things that can be done to address hunger in India, including:

Reducing poverty and inequality: This can be done by investing in social programs such as education, healthcare, and social protection.
Improving access to food: This can be done by investing in infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems and by providing food subsidies to the poor.
Addressing malnutrition: This can be done by promoting nutrition education and by providing access to nutritious foods.
Building resilience to climate change: This can be done by investing in sustainable agriculture practices and by providing financial assistance to farmers who are affected by climate change.

Conclusion:

The GHI 2023 report is a sobering reminder that hunger is still a major problem in the world and that India is one of the countries that is most affected by hunger. However, the report also shows that there are a number of things that can be done to address hunger in India. By reducing poverty and inequality, improving access to food, addressing malnutrition, and building resilience to climate change, India can make significant progress.