India Ranked 102nd in 'Global Hunger Index', 8 Spots Below Pakistan

Guwahati, October 16, 2019:

India was ranked 102nd on the Global Hunger Index, out of 117 countries. India is the lowest ranked among South Asian countries and way behind the other Brics nations.

The GHI collects data from 2014 to 2018, and is based on the proportion of a country's child population that is undernourished, share of children under five years of age who have insufficient weight for their height or whose height is not commensurate to their age, and the mortality rate of under-5 children.

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Somewhat alarmingly, India's child wasting rate is extremely high at 20.8%, which is the highest among all countries.

The report said only 9.6% of children between 6-23 months in India were fed a minimum acceptable diet. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, has been hailed by the report due to recent progress attributing it to "robust economic growth and attention to 'nutrition-sensitive' sectors such as education, sanitation, and health".

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Nepal has shown the highest percentage change in its ranking since 2000 according to the report, which attributed it to increased household assets (a proxy for household wealth), increased maternal education, improved sanitation, and implementation and use of health and nutrition programs, including antenatal and neonatal care.

The GHI ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst. Values less than 10 reflect low hunger, values from 20 to 34.9 indicate serious hunger; values from 35 to 49.9 are alarming; and values of 50 or more are extremely alarming.

India's score was 30.3, putting it in the serious hunger category. There were only four countries in the alarming hunger category and the Central African Republic in the

extremely alarming hunger category.

Climate change was affecting the quality and safety of food and worsening the nutritional value of cultivated food, it stated.

The report pointed out that while there has been progress since 2000, the world has a long way to go to achieve the 'zero hunger' target.

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