Lok Sabha Question No. 290 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Global Hunger Index 2019
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: M. Selvaraj, Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MtNISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &  pUBLTC  DTSTRTBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SAB}IA UilSTARRED QUESTION NO. 29O

## TO BE ANSWERED  ON 4th FEBRUARY, 2O2O

## GLOBAL HUNGER  INDEX 20{9

290. SHRI M. SELVARAJ: SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of  GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLTC DISTRIBUTION:tcs{tf.dr  ryrri, urEq dtr srffio Fif,wr d* be pteased  to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken cognizance of lndia's posation on the Global Hunger lndex 2O{9, prepared  by lntemational Food Policy Research  lnstatute (lFPRl) wherein lndia is placed at  1O2 among {17 countries which is the lowest among the South Asian countries, if so, the
- details thereof and Government's reaction thereto;
- (b)  whether the Govemment has taken cognizance  of the fact that lndia's position on the Global Hunger lndex 2O{9 has not changed significantly from that ot 2O18;
- (c)  the effective measures being taken/proposed  to be taken to tackle the problem in the country; and
- (d)  whether the Government has any plans in place to boost existing policies and schemes  aimed at reducing hunger and malnourishmentr  if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons  therefor?

## AI{SWER

MII{ISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD &

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (sHRl DANVE RAOSAHEB DADARAO)

- (a)  & (b): As  per  information available in  the  public domain (https://www.concern.net/insiqhts/c Iobal-hunqer-index-2Ol  9 )' Indiats ranking in the Global Hunger lndex (GHl) 2O{9 brought out by Goncern World Wide is {O2. lndia's ranking in the Global l{unger lndex (GHl) 2O{8 was {O3. As per GHI Report 2O{9 of Concern World Uride' the composite cHt scores of India have improved from 38.8 in 2OOO to 3O.3 in 2O19. Thus, the country has shown consistent  improvement  over the years.

.2t-

(c) & (d):  The Govemment  of lndia accords  high priorityr  to the issue of hunger and has been provid:ng foodgra:ns at highfy subsidized prices  to the targeted population through State  Govemments/Union Territory Administrations under Nataonal Food Security Act (NFSAI, 2013 and Other

UYelfare  Schemes  (OWS).

NFSA provides for coverage of upto 75o/o ol the rural population  and upto 5O% of the urban population  for receiving foodgrains  under Targeted Pub c Dlstribution System (TPDS), thus covering about two.thirds  of the poputation of the country for  receiving foodgrains @ Rs 11213 per kg  for  nutricereals/wheaUrice  respectively. Identification  of beneficiaries under the Act is under two categories- households covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH), within the coverage determined  for the State/UT.  IVhile Priorityr Households  are entitled  to receive 5 kg per penson per month, AAY households, which constitute the poorest of the poor, contanue to receive 35 Kg of foodgra,ns per household  per month. At present, the Act ls being implemented in all the States/UTs covering  about 80 crore persons to get haghly subsidized  foodgrains. The coverage under the Act is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable  and needy sections of the soclety get its benefit. The Act also has a special focus on the nutritional support to women and children. Pregnant  women, lactating  mothers and children upto 14 years of age are entitled to nutritious  meals, free of cost, as per the prescribed nutritional  standards.  ln case of non.supply of entitled  foodgrains  or meals, the beneficiaries will receive food security allowance. The Act also contains provisions for setting up of grievance  redressa! mechanism  at the Dlstrict and State levels. The implementation of NFSA through the Public Dlstribution System (PDS) is a  ioint  responsibllity of the Central and State Govemments/UT Administrations, and the  State Govemments/UT  Administrations are responsible for the ldentification  of beneficiaries under the I{FSA.

During the year 20{8-{9, the Government allocated  a quantity  ot 612.18 lakh MT of foodgralns to the States/UTs under ilFSA, Other Welfare Schemes and allocations due to natural calamities and festivals. During the current year i.e. 2O19-2O, the Govemment  of lndia has so far allocated 603.95 lakh MT of foodgrains under NFSA, OWS and addltaonal allocations. The scheme of End-toEnd Computerization of the PDS has ensured rightful targetang of the beneficiaries  all over the country.

Further, Govemment of lndia has issued advlsorles to al! States/UTs to identafy and cover the weakest sectlons of the society under PDS and launch special  drives to issue ration cards to them. Advisories  have been issued to all State/UTs that no beneficlary/household shatl be deleted from the list of eligible beneficiaries/households  only on the grounds of not possessing Aadhaar and shall also not be denied subsidized foodgrains or cash transfer of food subsldy under NFSA due to non.availability of Aadhaar or failure of biometric authentication.