The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) has once again shed light on a pressing issue affecting millions across the world: hunger. India’s GHI ranking is, although, worrying.
India On 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI)
On Global Hunger Index, India, despite being one of the world’s largest economies and fastest-growing nations, has been ranked 105th out of 127 countries, placing it in the “serious” category. This ranking highlights the persisting struggle with malnutrition and child mortality in the country. Some issues demand urgent attention and stronger policy interventions.
India, with a 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) score of 27.3, falls within the “serious” hunger category. It is grouped with countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan, while other South Asian neighbours such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have better scores, placing them in the “moderate” category. The GHI score for India is determined by four key indicators: 13.7% of the population is undernourished, 35.5% of children under five are stunted, 18.7% are wasted, and 2.9% of children die before their fifth birthday, as noted in the report. Several African nations are situated at the end of the GHI spectrum, categorised as ‘alarming.’ The ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Sudan have been particularly noted for contributing to severe food crises in these regions.
The 2024 report, now in its 19th edition, was released this week by the Irish humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide and the German aid agency Welthungerhilfe. It emphasizes that, without significant advancements in efforts to combat hunger, many of the world’s poorest countries will continue to face high hunger levels for several decades.
The Broader Global Picture
The GHI report stresses the need for comprehensive and sustained efforts to tackle global hunger. Economic growth alone cannot solve the problem of hunger, especially when it is accompanied by inequality and inadequate social safety nets. The report concludes that the likelihood of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 appears very slim. Despite the international community’s ongoing insistence on the importance of the right to adequate food, there is a concerning gap between established standards and the harsh reality that, in many areas, this right is being egregiously overlooked.
Globally, approximately 733 million people experience hunger daily due to insufficient access to food, while around 2.8 billion individuals cannot afford a healthy diet.
Cover image credits: Canva