Lok Sabha Question No. 1843 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Global Hunger Index
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Rajkumar Roat

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1843 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2024

## GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX

## 1843.  SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether India ranks 107 in the list of 121 countries in Global Hunger Index.
- (b) if so, the details of the efforts made by the government to bring improvement in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  increase  the  quantity  of  food  items provided to the ration card holders under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and bringing more families under its ambit to address the problem of starvation, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the number of families covered under the Food Security Mission during the last five years, State-wise and year-wise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) & (d): The GHI does not reflect India's true picture as it is a flawed measure of 'Hunger'.  It  should  not  be  taken  at  face  value  as  it  is  neither  appropriate  nor representative of hunger prevalent in a country. Out of its four indicators, only one indicator,  i.e.,  undernourishment,  is  directly  related  to  hunger.  The  two  indicators, namely, Stunting and Wasting are outcomes of complex interactions of various other factors like sanitation, genetics, environment and utilisation of food intake apart from hunger which is taken as the causative/outcome factor for stunting and wasting in the GHI. Also, there is hardly any evidence that the fourth indicator, namely, child mortality is an outcome of hunger.

As per Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 Report released by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, India stands at rank 111 out of 125 countries with a score of 28.7 which is an improvement over the GHI 2022 score 29.1.

The  Government  has  accorded  high  priority  to  the  issue  of  malnutrition  and  is implementing several schemes/programmes  of  different Ministries/Departments through  States/UTs  to  address  various  aspects  related  to  nutrition.  Under  15th Finance  Commission,  Anganwadi  services,  Poshan  Abhiyaan  and  Scheme  for Adolescent girls (14-18 years in Aspirational Districts and North-East region) were subsumed under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0). Mission Poshan 2.0 seeks to address the challenge of malnutrition through improved nutrition  content  and  delivery.  It  is  a  Centre  Sponsored  Scheme,  where  the responsibility of implementation of the scheme is with the States.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0 a strategic shift has been made for reduction in malnutrition and  for  improved  health,  wellness  and  immunity  through  community  engagement, outreach, behavioral change, and advocacy. Mission Poshan 2.0 focuses on Maternal Nutrition,  Infant  and  Young  Child  Feeding  Norms,  treatment  of  Severe  Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce wasting, underweight prevalence, stunting and anaemia. Immunization,  Health  Check-up,  and  Referral  Services  to  the  beneficiaries  are supported by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Mission Poshan 2.0 in convergence with more than 18 Ministries/Departments supports and implements programmes to tackle malnutrition and promote health and wellness.

Under  this  scheme,  Supplementary  Nutrition  is  provided  in  accordance  with  the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act. To address the  challenge  of  malnutrition  more  effectively,  these  nutrition  norms  have  been revised. The old norms were largely calorie-specific, however, the revised norms are more  comprehensive  and  balanced  in  terms  of  both  quantity  and  quality  of supplementary nutrition based on the principles of diet diversity that provides quality protein, healthy fats and micronutrients.

Only fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro-nutrients and control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being given on the use of millets (Shree Anna) for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal at least once a week  and  Take  Home  ration  (THR  -  not  raw  ration)  at  Anganwadi  centers  for beneficiaries.

Ministry  of  Women  & Child  Development  and  Ministry  of  Health  &  Family Welfare jointly released the protocol for Community Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) to prevent and treat severe acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and mortality.

Under  Mission  Poshan  2.0,  one  of  the  major  activities  undertaken  is  Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy leading to Jan Andolan to educate the people on nutritional aspects. State and  UTs  are conducting and  reporting regular sensitisation  activities  under  community  engagement  programmes  during  Poshan Maahs and Poshan Pakhwadas celebrated in the months of September and MarchApril  respectively.  Community  Based  Events  (CBEs)  have  served  as  a  significant strategy  in  changing  nutrition  practices and all  Anganwadi  workers  are  required to conduct two Community Based Events every month.

The indicators for malnutrition like children being underweight, stunted or wasted have shown  a  steady  improvement  as  per  the  National  Family  Health  Survey  (NFHS) conducted by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. As per the report of NFHS-5 (2019-21),  the  nutrition  indicators  for  children  under  5  years  have  improved  as compared with NFHS-4 (2015-16). Stunting has reduced from 38.4% to 35.5%, while Wasting has reduced from 21.0% to 19.3% and Underweight prevalence has reduced from 35.8% to 32.1%.

As per the data of Poshan Tracker for the month of June 2024, around 8.57 crore children under 6 years were measured, out of whom 35% were found to be stunted, 17% were found to be underweight and 6% children under 5 years were found to be wasted. The levels of underweight and wasting in children as obtained from Poshan Tracker data are much less than those projected by NFHS 5.

Further, the Government released Streamlined Guidelines dated 13.1.2021 for greater transparency,  accountability  and  quality  in  the  nutrition  support  programme  and service delivery. These guidelines emphasize on ensuring the quality of supplementary nutrition, highlight roles and responsibilities of duty holders, IT enabled data  management  and  monitoring,  leveraging  of  traditional  knowledge  through AYUSH, procurement and convergence for achieving good nutritional outcomes.

The Government of India also accords high priority to the issue of hunger and has been  providing  food  grains  at  highly  subsidized  prices  to  the  targeted  population through  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations  under  National  Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing National Food Security Mission (NFSM) with the objective of increasing food grains production through area expansion and productivity enhancement in all the 28 states and 2 Union Territories (Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh) of the country. Under NFSM assistance is given through state governments to farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations  on  improved  package  of  practices,  demonstrations  on  cropping system, distribution of seeds of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs)/hybrids, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection measures, nutrient management/soil ameliorants, processing & postharvest equipments, cropping system based trainings to the farmers etc. The mission also  provides  support  to  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  &  State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/ Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for technology back stopping and transfer of technology to the farmer under supervision of Subject Matter Specialists/Scientists.

The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) being implemented in all the States/UTs, on an all-India basis, aims to supplement the food requirements of up to 75% of the rural and up to 50% of the urban population, which at  Census 2011 comes to 81.35 crore persons. The Coverage under the PMGKAY is substantially high to ensure that all the vulnerable and needy sections of the society get its benefit.

Under  the  PMGKAY,  while  Antyodaya  Anna  Yojana  (AAY)  households,  which constitute the poorest of the poor are entitled to 35 kg of food grains, per family per month, Priority Households (PHH) are entitled to 5 kg of food grains per person per month, free of cost, w.e.f. 1st January, 2023 till 31st December, 2028.

At present, out of the total intended coverage of 81.35 crore, 80.54 crore persons are covered under PMGKAY. The scheme of End-to-End Computerization of the PDS has ensured rightful targeting of the beneficiaries all over the country." State wise coverage may be seen at Annexure I.

At  present,  there  is no proposal  for  enhancement  of  coverage is  under consideration of the Government.

****

## ANNEXURE

| Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   | Statement indicating State-Wise number of Persons/families Covered under National Food Security Act, 2013 - As on 29.07.2024   |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. No.                                                                                                                        | States/ UTs                                                                                                                    | Impl. Month                                                                                                                    | Popul ation in lakh (Cens us                                                                                                   | Perce ntage Cover age                                                                                                          | Accepted No. of persons under NFSA (in lakh)                                                                                   | Accepted No. of persons under NFSA (in lakh)                                                                                   | Accepted No. of persons under NFSA (in lakh)                                                                                   | Ceiling of AAY HH (in lakh)                                                                                                    | Present coverage (In lakh)                                                                                                     | Present coverage (In lakh)                                                                                                     | Present coverage (In lakh)                                                                                                     | Present coverage (In lakh)                                                                                                     | Present coverage (In lakh)                                                                                                     |                                                                                                                                |                                                                                                                                |
| Sl. No.                                                                                                                        | States/ UTs                                                                                                                    | Impl. Month                                                                                                                    | Popul ation in lakh (Cens us                                                                                                   | Rural                                                                                                                          | Urban                                                                                                                          | Total                                                                                                                          | Rural                                                                                                                          | Urban                                                                                                                          | Total                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                | AAY                                                                                                                            | AAY                                                                                                                            | Prio rity No. of                                                                                                               | Total person s                                                                                                                 | %of acce pted perso ns                                                                                                         |
| Sl. No.                                                                                                                        | States/ UTs                                                                                                                    | Impl. Month                                                                                                                    | 2011)                                                                                                                          | Rural                                                                                                                          | Urban                                                                                                                          | Total                                                                                                                          | Rural                                                                                                                          | Urban                                                                                                                          | Total                                                                                                                          |                                                                                                                                | No. of famil ies                                                                                                               | No. of pers on                                                                                                                 | perso ns                                                                                                                       | Total person s                                                                                                                 | %of acce pted perso ns                                                                                                         |
| 1                                                                                                                              | Andhra Pradesh                                                                                                                 | Dec- 15                                                                                                                        | 493.77                                                                                                                         | 60.96                                                                                                                          | 41.14                                                                                                                          | 54.32                                                                                                                          | 200.20                                                                                                                         | 68.03                                                                                                                          | 268.23                                                                                                                         | 9.09                                                                                                                           | 9.08                                                                                                                           | 23.52                                                                                                                          | 244.7 0                                                                                                                        | 268.22                                                                                                                         | 100.0 0%                                                                                                                       |
| 2                                                                                                                              | Arunachal Pradesh                                                                                                              | Apr-16                                                                                                                         | 13.83                                                                                                                          | 66.31                                                                                                                          | 51.55                                                                                                                          | 62.95                                                                                                                          | 7.09                                                                                                                           | 1.62                                                                                                                           | 8.71                                                                                                                           | 0.38                                                                                                                           | 0.38                                                                                                                           | 1.50                                                                                                                           | 6.90                                                                                                                           | 8.40                                                                                                                           | 96.53 %                                                                                                                        |
| 3                                                                                                                              | Assam                                                                                                                          | Dec- 15                                                                                                                        | 311.69                                                                                                                         | 84.17                                                                                                                          | 60.35                                                                                                                          | 80.82                                                                                                                          | 225.41                                                                                                                         | 26.49                                                                                                                          | 251.90                                                                                                                         | 7.04                                                                                                                           | 6.92                                                                                                                           | 28.08                                                                                                                          | 223.0 8                                                                                                                        | 251.17                                                                                                                         | 99.71 %                                                                                                                        |
| 4                                                                                                                              | Bihar                                                                                                                          | Mar- 14                                                                                                                        | 1038.0 5                                                                                                                       | 85.12                                                                                                                          | 74.53                                                                                                                          | 83.92                                                                                                                          | 783.74                                                                                                                         | 87.42                                                                                                                          | 871.16                                                                                                                         | 25.01                                                                                                                          | 25.01                                                                                                                          | 125.0 5                                                                                                                        | 746.1 1                                                                                                                        | 871.16                                                                                                                         | 100.0 0%                                                                                                                       |
| 5                                                                                                                              | Chattisgarh                                                                                                                    | Jan-14                                                                                                                         | 255.40                                                                                                                         | 84.25                                                                                                                          | 59.98                                                                                                                          | 78.61                                                                                                                          | 165.16                                                                                                                         | 35.61                                                                                                                          | 200.77                                                                                                                         | 7.19                                                                                                                           | 7.19                                                                                                                           | 20.42                                                                                                                          | 180.3 5                                                                                                                        | 200.77                                                                                                                         | 100.0 0%                                                                                                                       |
| 6                                                                                                                              | Delhi                                                                                                                          | Oct-13                                                                                                                         | 167.53                                                                                                                         | 37.69                                                                                                                          | 43.59                                                                                                                          | 43.44                                                                                                                          | 1.58                                                                                                                           | 71.20                                                                                                                          | 72.78                                                                                                                          | 1.57                                                                                                                           | 0.69                                                                                                                           | 2.78                                                                                                                           | 70.00                                                                                                                          | 72.78                                                                                                                          | 100.0 0%                                                                                                                       |
| 7                                                                                                                              | Goa                                                                                                                            | Dec- 15                                                                                                                        | 14.58                                                                                                                          | 42.24                                                                                                                          | 33.02                                                                                                                          | 36.50                                                                                                                          | 2.33                                                                                                                           | 2.99                                                                                                                           | 5.32                                                                                                                           | 0.18                                                                                                                           | 0.12                                                                                                                           | 0.46                                                                                                                           | 4.86                                                                                                                           | 5.32                                                                                                                           | 100.0 0%                                                                                                                       |
| 8                                                                                                                              | Gujarat                                                                                                                        | Apr-16                                                                                                                         | 603.84                                                                                                                         | 74.64                                                                                                                          | 48.25                                                                                                                          | 63.40                                                                                                                          | 258.78                                                                                                                         | 124.06                                                                                                                         | 382.85                                                                                                                         | 8.13                                                                                                                           | 7.73                                                                                                                           | 35.53                                                                                                                          | 316.0 7                                                                                                                        | 351.60                                                                                                                         | 91.84 %                                                                                                                        |

| 9                 | Haryana          | Sep- 13      |   253.53 |   54.61 |   41.05 |   49.89 |   90.28 |   36.21 |   126.49 |   3.03 | 2.68    | 11.35   |   115.1 4 126.49 | 100.0 0%   |
|-------------------|------------------|--------------|----------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|----------|--------|---------|---------|------------------|------------|
| 10                | Himachal Pradesh | Oct-13 68.57 |    56.23 |   30.99 |   53.69 |   34.68 |    2.13 |   36.82 |     1.97 |   1.82 | 7.67    | 20.98   |            28.64 | 77.80 %    |
| 11 Jharkhand      | Oct-15           | 329.66       |    86.48 |   60.2  |   80.16 |  216.52 |   47.73 |  264.25 |     9.18 |   8.94 | 34.76   | 229.4 3 |           264.19 | 99.98 %    |
| 12 Karnataka      | Jan-14           | 611.31       |    76.04 |   49.36 |   65.75 |  285.55 |  116.38 |  401.93 |    12    |  10.97 | 43.91   | 358.0 2 |           401.93 | 100.0 0%   |
| 13 Kerala         | Nov- 16          | 333.88       |    52.63 |   39.5  |   46.36 |   91.87 |   62.93 |  154.8  |     5.96 |   5.96 | 25.59   | 129.2 1 |           154.8  | 100.0 0%   |
| 14 Madhya Pradesh | Mar- 14          | 725.98       |    80.1  |   62.61 |   75.27 |  420.83 |  125.59 |  546.42 |    15.82 |  14.63 | 54.93   | 479.8 6 |           534.79 | 97.87 %    |
| 15 Maharashtra    | Feb- 14          | 1123.7 3     |    76.32 |   45.34 |   62.31 |  469.71 |  230.45 |  700.17 |    25.05 |  25.05 | 108.0 1 | 592.1 6 |           700.17 | 100.0 0%   |
| 16 Manipur        | Apr-16           | 28.56        |    88.56 |   85.75 |   87.74 |   17.9  |    7.15 |   25.06 |     0.64 |   0.64 | 1.82    | 18.26   |            20.08 | 80.15 %    |
| 17 Meghalaya      | Feb- 16          | 29.64        |    77.79 |   50.87 |   72.39 |   18.43 |    3.03 |   21.46 |     0.7  |   0.7  | 2.91    | 18.54   |            21.46 | 100.0 0%   |
| 18 Mizoram        | Mar- 16          | 10.91        |    81.88 |   48.6  |   64.74 |    4.33 |    2.73 |    7.06 |     0.26 |   0.26 | 0.64    | 6.19    |             6.83 | 96.67 %    |
| 19 Nagaland       | Jul-16           | 19.81        |    79.83 |   61.98 |   74.64 |   11.23 |    3.56 |   14.79 |     0.48 |   0.48 | 2.11    | 11.94   |            14.05 | 94.99 %    |
| 20 Odisha         | Nov- 15          | 419.47       |    82.17 |   55.77 |   77.77 |  287.19 |   39.02 |  326.21 |    12.65 |  12.54 | 37.52   | 288.4 6 |           325.98 | 99.93 %    |
| 21 Punjab         | Dec- 13          | 277.04       |    54.79 |   44.83 |   51.06 |   94.88 |   46.57 |  141.45 |     1.79 |   1.79 | 7.64    | 133.8 0 |           141.45 | 100.0 0%   |
| 22 Rajasthan      | Oct-13           | 686.21       |    69.09 |   53    |   65.08 |  356.09 |   90.53 |  446.62 |     9.32 |   6.29 | 22.29   | 417.7 2 |           440.01 | 98.52 %    |
| 23 Sikkim         | Jan-16           | 6.08         |    75.74 |   40.36 |   66.87 |    3.45 |    0.61 |    4.07 |     0.17 |   0.17 | 0.57    | 3.24    |             3.81 | 93.78 %    |

| 24                  | Tamil Nadu    | Nov- 16       | 721.39         | 62.55       | 37.79 50.55   | 232.62   | 132.08   | 364.69   | 18.65       | 18.64           | 65.78    | 298.3 4 364.12    | 99.84 %   |
|---------------------|---------------|---------------|----------------|-------------|---------------|----------|----------|----------|-------------|-----------------|----------|-------------------|-----------|
| 25                  | Telangana     | Oct-15 352.89 | 60.96          |             | 41.14 54.32   | 143.08   | 48.62    | 191.70   | 6.49        | 5.67            | 15.28    | 176.3 3 191.62    | 99.96 %   |
| 26                  | Tripura       | Sep- 15 36.71 | 74.75          | 49.54       | 68.15         | 20.26    | 4.76     | 25.02    | 1.13        | 1.09 4.62       | 19.81    | 24.43             | 97.65 %   |
| 27                  | Uttar Pradesh | Jan-16        | 1995.8 1 79.56 | 64.43       | 76.19         | 1234.0 6 | 286.52   | 1520.5 9 | 40.95 40.90 | 132.5 7         | 1377. 26 | 1509.8 2          | 99.29 %   |
| 28 Uttarakhand      | Oct-15        | 101.17        | 65.26          | 52.05       | 61.22         | 45.85    | 16.09    | 61.94    | 1.91 1.84   | 7.92            | 54.02    | 61.94             | 100.0 0%  |
| 29 West Bengal      | Jun- 15       | 913.48        | 74.47          | 47.55       | 65.88         | 463.31   | 138.53   | 601.84   | 19.86       | 16.42 54.99     | 546.8 5  | 601.84            | 100.0 0%  |
| 30 A&N              |               | Mar- 16 3.80  | 24.94          | 1.70        | 16.65         | 0.61     | 0.02     | 0.63     | 0.11 0.04   | 0.14            | 0.46     | 0.61              | 96.21 %   |
| 31                  | DNH&DD        | Nov- 15 5.86  |                | 69.93       | 54.17 60.72   | 1.70     | 1.85     | 3.56     | 0.08        | 0.05 0.24       | 2.45     | 2.69              | 75.60 %   |
| 32 Lakshadweep      |               | Aug- 15       | 0.64 35.30     |             | 33.56 34.17   | 0.05     | 0.17     | 0.22     | 0.01        | 0.01 0.04       | 0.18     | 0.22              | 99.72 %   |
| 33 Chandigarh (DBT) |               | Feb- 14       | 10.55          | 38.54 47.26 | 47.01         | 0.11     | 4.85     | 4.96     | 0.09        | 0.00 0.01       | 2.98     | 2.99              | 60.29 %   |
| 34 (DBT)            | Puduchery     | Sep- 15       | 12.44          | 59.68       | 46.94 51.00   | 2.35     | 3.99     | 6.34     | 0.32        | 0.25 0.82       | 5.52     | 6.34              | 99.92 %   |
| 35 J&K              | Feb- 16       | 122.67        | 63.93          | 46.93       | 59.26         | 56.87    | 15.82    | 72.69    | 2.76        | 2.33 10.61      | 61.80    | 72.41             | 99.61 %   |
| 36 Ladakh           | Feb- 16       | 2.74          | 55.65          | 41.62       | 52.47         | 1.18     | 0.26     | 1.44     | 0.06        | 0.06 0.29       | 1.15     | 1.44              | 99.99 %   |
| Total               | Total         | Total         | 12103. 22      | 75.00       | 50.00 67.21   | 6249.3 0 | 1885.6 1 | 8134.9 1 | 250.0 0     | 237.3 3 892.3 7 |          | 7162. 20 8054.5 6 | 99.01 %   |