Date:Oct 14, 2014
Report released by US-based non-profit
indicates that 2 billion people in the world suffer from hidden hunger,
affecting their health and productivity
Photograph by Sayantan Bera
India has improved its ranking in the new Global Hunger Index report released by the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), a Washington-based global
non-profit. The country has been ranked at 55 among 76 countries, above
Bangladesh (ranked 57) and Pakistan, (also ranked 57). But Nepal and Sri Lanka
are better placed than India in the index ranking.
The last GHI report appeared in 2005, in which India was ranked below Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The last GHI report appeared in 2005, in which India was ranked below Pakistan and Bangladesh.
IFRI analyses and records the state of hunger
worldwide
The 2014
GHI report shows that progress has been made in reducing absolute number of
hungry people. However, there are still 16 countries where hunger is alarming
or extremely alarming. Burundi and Eritrea are both classified as “extremely
alarming”. The report has categorised countries with high hunger levels into
three groups—serious, alarming and extremely alarming.
The state
of hunger in developing countries as a group has improved since 1990, falling
by 39 per cent, according to the 2014 GHI. Despite progress made, the level of
hunger in the world is still “serious,” with 805 million people continuing to
go hungry, according to estimates by the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, the report points out.
Hidden hunger
Hidden hunger
This
year’s report focuses on another kind of hunger which is generally overlooked:
hidden hunger.
Hidden hunger, defined as deficiency of micronutrients, is affecting 2 billion people globally, says the report. This shortage in essential vitamins and minerals can have long-term, irreversible health effects and by affecting people’s productivity; it can also take a toll on countries’ economies, says the report.
Hidden hunger, defined as deficiency of micronutrients, is affecting 2 billion people globally, says the report. This shortage in essential vitamins and minerals can have long-term, irreversible health effects and by affecting people’s productivity; it can also take a toll on countries’ economies, says the report.
According
to report, the highest GHI scores—and therefore the highest hunger levels—are
in Africa, south of the Sahara and South Asia.
South
Asia saw greatest absolute improvements since 2005. It saw the steepest
absolute decline in GHI scores since 1990. Progress in addressing child
underweight was the main factor behind the improved GHI score for the region
since 1990, says the report.
Where India stands
Where India stands
According
to report, India is no longer ranked second to last for underweight children.
It is now 120th among 128 countries on child under-nutrition, an improvement
from the 2009 report.
The index
shows that India has been successfully dealing with the problem of underweight
children, which shows a fall in GHI score to 17.8 from 24.2.
India’s
GHI score declined by 26 per cent, or 6.4 points, between the 2005 GHI and the
2014 GHI, outpacing the drop seen in other countries in South Asia in the same
time period. India now ranks 55 out of 76 countries, before Bangladesh and
Pakistan, but still trails behind neighboring Nepal (rank 44) and Sri Lanka (rank
39).
Meanwhile,
India is no longer in the “alarming” category. India’s hunger status is still
classified as “serious”, according to the GHI.
