{"id":16773,"date":"2023-08-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/22-08-2023\/indias-hunger-challenge\/"},"modified":"2023-08-22T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T00:00:00","slug":"indias-hunger-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/22-08-2023\/indias-hunger-challenge","title":{"rendered":"India’s Hunger Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n<\/p>\n

India’s Hunger Challenge<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n
Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Arising out of their Design & Implementation<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
In Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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India lifted 135 million people out of poverty, however, malnutrition still remains an onerous challenge.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
India\u2019s Achievements<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Poverty & Hunger:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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From 2015-16 to 2019-21, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>India lifted 135 million people out of poverty<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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This is a commendable achievement based on the Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MDPI) prepared by the NITI Aayog.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
When India got freedom<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> more than 80 percent of people were in extreme poverty, which today hovers around 15 per cent as per MDPI and <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>about 11 per cent based on income criterion ($2.15 PPP)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
The <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>UNDP <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>has estimated that India lifted 415 million people out of poverty (MDPI) over the period 2005-06 to 2019-21.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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India seems to be <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>on track to almost abolish poverty<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the next five to 10 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
On <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>hunger<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, at least in terms of food availability, India has done well.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Revolutionising India:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Green revolution: The Green Revolution<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> turned India from a \u201cship to mouth\u201d economy to the largest exporter of rice. It has also enabled India to give free rice or wheat (5kg\/month\/person) to more than 800 million people under the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, thus improving their economic access to basic staples.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
White revolution:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> India also experienced the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>White Revolution (milk)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and emerged as the largest producer of milk (222 MT), with the US coming at number two with just 102 MT of milk production.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Gene revolution: The gene revolution <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>in cotton that was triggered by introduction of Bt cotton, made India the largest producer of cotton.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Challenges<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Malnutrition: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Malnutrition is still a challenge, especially amongst children below the age of five.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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As per NFHS-5 (2019-21), 32 percent of children were underweight, 35 per cent stunted, and 19 per cent wasted.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Although India made reasonably good progress in reducing infant mortality from 57 per 1,000 in 2005-06 to 35 per 1,000 in 2019-21, the progress on other indicators of malnutrition is not very satisfactory.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Climate change & food insecurity: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, from heat waves to flash floods, pose a big challenge not only to India\u2019s food system but also to poverty alleviation \u2013 gains could reverse with these shocks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Non-communicable diseases: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>The rising burden of <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>cardiovascular <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>and other <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>non-communicable diseases<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in India, particularly among the rapidly growing \u201cmiddle class\u201d, is strongly linked to diet and nutrition.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Causes of Malnutrition<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Calorific deficiency:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> Though the government has surplus of foodgrains, there is calorific deficiency because of improper allocation and distribution. Even the yearly allocated budget is not fully utilized.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Protein deficiency:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> Pulses are a major panacea to address protein deficiency. However, there is a lack of budgetary allocation for inclusion of pulses in PDS. With Eggs missing from menus of Mid-day Meals in various States, an easy way to improve protein intake is lost.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Micronutrient deficiency (hidden hunger): <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>India faces a severe crisis in micronutrient deficiency. Its causes include poor diet, prevalence of disease or non-fulfilment of increased micronutrient needs during pregnancy and lactation.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Suggestions<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Access to nutritious food: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It is time to elevate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> food intake among young children<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> to be of primary importance, as opposed to being<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> referred to as \u201ccomplementary\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in policies and guidelines related to maternal, infant and young child nutrition.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Access to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>adequate and affordable nutritious food<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> is equally necessary for mothers for <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>healthy breastfeeding<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Need of improved assessments: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>To better understand food security for all populations in India, assessments using<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> household-level food insecurity modules<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation can be adapted to measure the extent of food insecurity among Indian households.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Evidence-based policy: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Measuring the<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> availability, accessibility and affordability of nutritious food<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, especially for<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> disadvantaged and vulnerable populations<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> such as young children, constitutes the foundation for any evidence-based policy to end hunger and improve nutritional security among Indians.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>To achieve the SDG of zero hunger, and building on the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>, India should consider a strategic initiative led by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> aimed at eliminating food insecurity in India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> and <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>ensuring affordable access <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India\u2019s youngest children.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government Interventions<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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Eat Right India Movement:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> An outreach activity organized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for citizens to nudge them towards eating right.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
POSHAN Abhiyan: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2018, it targets to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>A centrally sponsored scheme executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, is a maternity benefit programme being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January, 2017.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Food Fortification:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> Food Fortification or Food Enrichment is the addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, and Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt to improve their nutritional content.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
National Food Security Act, 2013: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>It legally entitled up to 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under the Targeted Public Distribution System.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Mission Indradhanush:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> It targets children under 2 years of age and pregnant women for immunization against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>Launched in 1975, the ICDS Scheme offers a package of six services to children in the age group of 0-6 years and pregnant and lactating mothers<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Way ahead<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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A straightforward answer to these challenges would be to keep the focus on accelerating economic growth and making it more inclusive.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
Fixing the pre-existing schemes<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> is another important solution to addressing India\u2019s multi-dimensional nutrition challenge.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n
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Getting the already existing schemes right requires greater involvement of <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>local government and local community groups<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> in the design and delivery of tailored nutrition interventions.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Daily Mains Question<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
[Q] <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>What are the causes of malnutrition for India, that lifted 135 million people out of poverty in the last five years? Suggest policy measures to address the issue of malnutrition.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
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India’s Hunger Challenge Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Arising out of their Design & Implementation In Context India lifted 135 million people out of poverty, however, malnutrition still remains an onerous challenge. India\u2019s Achievements Poverty & Hunger:\u00a0 From 2015-16 to 2019-21, India lifted 135 million people out of poverty.\u00a0 This is a commendable achievement based […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16256,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-16773","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-thehindu"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/09\/7011170images.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16773","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16773"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16773\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}