Rural Indians Suffer from a ‘Hidden Hunger’

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• A new study by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) shows that many Indians in rural areas suffer from protein deficiency in spite of producing sufficient protein-rich foods or being able to afford them.

Major Findings

• More than two-thirds of households surveyed across India’s semi-arid tropics consume less protein than recommended despite sufficient availability of protein sources.
• Consumptions of Staples: Regions rely heavily on staple grains like rice and wheat, which contribute 60–75% of daily protein intake. 
• Underutilization of Protein-rich foods: Foods such as pulses, dairy, eggs, and meat remain underutilized, not necessarily because they are scarce, but due to a mix of cultural food preferences, limited nutritional awareness, and financial constraints.
• Deficiency in Wealthier Families: Even wealthier families, who can afford diverse diets, often fail to meet recommended protein intake levels.
• Households where women had higher levels of education were more likely to consume a balanced diet. 
• PDS System: India’s Public Distribution System (PDS), has been successful in improving calorie intake.
  • However, it has inadvertently reinforced a diet dominated by cereals while failing to provide sufficient protein-rich options.
• Reasons for the Dietary Habits: 
  • deeply ingrained dietary habits, 
  • lack of understanding about the importance of protein-rich foods, 
  • financial constraints.

Recommendations

• Increasing the inclusion of pulses, millets, and other protein-dense foods in government food programs to significantly improve nutritional outcomes.
• Region-specific strategies would be needed to promote balanced nutritional intake.
• Integrating nutrition education into public health programmes and school curricula.
• Encouraging farmers to grow a wider variety of nutrient-dense crops.

Source: DTE