Lok Sabha Question No. 87 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-15
Subject: Global Hunger Index
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, DINESH TRIVEDI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 87 TO BE ANSWERED ON   15 TH DECEMBER, 2017

## GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX

## 87. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY: SHRI DINESH TRIVEDI:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether India has been ranked 100th in Global Hunger Index (GHI) during the year 2017 and if so, the details and facts in this regard;
- (b) the reason for such poor ranking despite va rious programmes/ schemes being implemented by the Government; and
- (c) the measures taken/being taken by the Government to improve the position in GHI?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

## (a): Yes.

- As  per  2017  Global  Hunger  Index  (GHI)  Report, published  by  the  International  Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), India ranks 100 out 119 countries.
- The Global Hunger Index is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and national levels. The International Food Policy Research I (IFPRI)  calculates  GHI  scores  each  year  to  assess  progress  and  setbacks  in  combat hunger.
- To capture the multidimensional nature of hunger, GHI scores are based on four indicators as follows:
1. Undernourishment: the share of the population that is undernourished (that is, whose caloric intake is insufficient);
2. Child wasting: the share of children under the age of five who are wasted (that is havelow weight for their height, reflecting acute under - nutrition);
3. Child stunting: the share of children under the age of five who are stunted (that have low height for their age, reflecting chronic under - nutrition); and
4. Child mortality: the mortali ty rate of children under the age of five (in part, a reflect the mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments).

(b): Government  of  India  has  accorded  high  priority  to  address  the  issue  of  hunger malnutrition by implementing several sc hemes/ programmes to improve food security situation in the country. The reason for such poor ranking is more on account of comparative perfor of other economies.

(c). For tackling  the  problem  of  hunger  in  the  country  and  to  improve  the  position  in  G HI, Government has implemented following interventions:

- Provision of food grains at highly subsidized prices to the targeted population throug Governments/ UT Administrations under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) in terms of Nation F ood Security Act, 2013 and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS) such as Mid - Day  Meal  Scheme,  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme,  Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls, Annapurna Scheme etc.
- National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 provides for coverage of up to 70% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population thus covering about two - third of the population, for receiving food grains at highly subsidized prices of Rs.3, 2 and 1 per Kg. for rice and coarse grain respecti vely under TPDS. The Act also has a special focus on nutritional support to women and children.
- Recently  National  Nutrition  Mission  has  been  approved  under  MWCD  for  addressing malnutrition status of the country in a comprehensive manner.