Global Hunger Index Report 2024: ‘Serious’ Hunger situation: A Critical Assessment
The path to eradicating hunger passes through farmers’ fields
Dr. Ramjilal, Social Scientist, Former Principal, Dyal Singh College, Karnal (Haryana-India)
Email—drramjilal 1947@gmail.com
THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT, UK-
At present, mankind is facing innumerable problems in the social, economic, educational and political fields at the global level. The most serious problem among these is hunger. As a result of hunger, various aspects of life are adversely affected. Unprecedentedly increasing inequality between the rich and the poor due to capitalism and corporatization, increase in prices, increase in unemployment rate and lack of employment opportunities, impact of Corona crisis on various aspects of life, climate crisis, Ukraine-Russia war, conflicts between citizens in various countries, rising prices of food and feedstuffs, energy and fertilisers are worsening the food security situation instead of improving.
All these factors have resulted in an increase in the hunger index. According to the World Food Programme (2023), girls and women are severely affected by hunger, gender-based discrimination, abuse, violence, child marriage and life-threatening diseases due to food insecurity. And it is estimated that 70% of those dying from hunger worldwide are women and girls.
( https://theasianindependent.co.uk/global-hunger-index-report-2023-a-critical-assessment/) (https://planinternational.org/publications/world-hunger-impact-girls/)
Global Hunger Index Report: Based on Scientific Methods: The Global Hunger Index has been examined continuously since 2006 by two world-renowned humanitarian non-governmental organisations – Concern Worldwide (Ireland) and Welthungerhilfe (Germany). According to the official website of the Global Hunger Index, the main sources of data for these organisations are FAO for undernutrition data, WHO, UNICEF, MEASURE, and DHS 2023 (including data up to 2018-2022).The child mortality data is based on the report sent by the Internet Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. Apart from these sources, data is also collected on the basis of reports sent by the state governments. Both NGOs evaluate the Global Hunger Index and ranking of the states in a very scientific manner on the basis of data.
The Global Hunger Index report is prepared by rising above narrow and parochial feelings, region, country, religion, language,race, and colour discrimination. The objective of the report of the non-governmental organisations –Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe is not only to show the mirror to the countries affected by poverty, hunger, and malnutrition but also to give suggestions to improve the situation. It depends on the governments of different countries whether they accept their suggestions and improve the situation or criticise their report and throw it in the dustbin. Based on the report, many countries have improved the situation by providing relief to their people.
Scale to Measure and Track Hunger:
At the global level, a formula for measuring hunger has been prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO). In other words, a scale of points has been kept to measure and track hunger, and states are classified accordingly. First, if the score is less than 9.9, then it indicates low hunger. This indicates that the states whose score is less than 9.0. State governments are making continuous efforts to eliminate hunger, malnutrition, and poverty .Second,from 10 to 19. An index up to 9 indicates the ‘medium range’. Third, the scale ranges from 20 to 34.9 points. This is a ‘serious category’. Fourth, a scale of 35 to 35.39 falls in the ‘dangerous category of hunger’.Fifth, a score of more than 50 means that such a state is ‘extremely suffering’ from hunger. Component Indicators for Calculating GHI Score
The four indicator components used to calculate the GHI score are as follows:
1. Undernutrition: The proportion of the population with ‘inadequate calorie’ intake,
2. Child Dwarfism: The proportion of children under five years of age whose height is less than their age. This is a symbol of ‘chronic malnutrition’.
3. Child Wasting: The proportion of children under five years of age whose weight is less than their height. This is a condition of ‘severe malnutrition’.
4. Child mortality: The proportion of children dying before their fifth birthday, partly reflecting a ‘fatal mix’ of inadequate nutrition and an unhealthy environment.
This score starts from zero and goes up to 100. The higher the score, the more severe the hunger. If the score is from zero to 9.9, then there is either no or very little hunger, and if the score is more than 50, then the situation is ‘extremely dangerous’.
(https://theasianindependent.co.uk/global-hunger-index-report-2023-a-critical-assessment/)
(https://samajweekly.com/global-hunger-index-report-2023-a-critical-assessment/
Global Hunger Index Report 2024: Key Highlights
The key highlights of the Global Hunger Index Report 2024 are as follows:
1. Top Ranked 22 Countries: With Low Levels of Hunger: According to the Global Hunger Report 2024, the top countries in which the hunger index is less than 5 only and are not assigned individual ranks. The level of hunger among 22 countries—Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, China, Croatia, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Rumania, Russian Federation etc. is low or almost non-existent. In these countries, number of policies and programs have been implemented in a well planned manner to relieve people from hunger. These states act as a guide for other states of the world.
2. Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024: India and India’s Neighbours:
According to the Global Hunger Report 2020, India was ranked 94th in the list of 117 countries. In 2022, India was ranked 107th in the list of 121 countries. In the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, India’s neighbouring countries Pakistan (102nd), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th) and Sri Lanka (60th) are ranked. India slipped four places from its 107th position in 2022 to 2023.According to the Hunger Index Report 2024, India ranks 105th in the list of 127 countries With a score of 27.3 in the 2024 . India’s rank has improved in 2024 as compared to previous years. But India is still among the countries with ‘severe hunger’ problems. Keeping in view the serious problem of hunger, ‘hunger-free India’ by 2030 is a fantasy. (https://samajweekly.com/global-hunger-index-repo)
3 % of India’s population suffering from Malnutrition :
13.7 % of India’s population suffers from malnutrition, 35.5% Children under the age of five suffer from stunting, 18.7% of children suffer from malnutrition, and 2.9% Children do not reach the age of five, that is, they cannot celebrate their fifth birthday.
3. No sufficient food to Eat:
According to the Global Hunger Index 2024, 733 million people globally suffer from hunger because they are not getting sufficient food to eat every day.
4. The Food Crisis and Conflict Among Citizens :
The Global Hunger Index of some countries of the African continent is moving towards the last boundary of the ‘dangerous category’. According to the report, the root cause of the food crisis is conflict among citizens. Thomas Hobbes, a famous political thinker, while describing the state of nature in his book ‘Leviathan’ wrote that “there is a war of every man against every man”. This description is a reflection on some African countries. Apart from African countries, conflict among citizens is also the root cause of food crises in countries like the Dominican Republic of Congo, Haiti, Mali, and Syria. (https://samajweekly.com/global-hunger-index-repo)
5. Serious level of Hunger:
The level of hunger is worrying in six countries—Chad, Madagascar, Yemen, Burundi, Somalia and South Sudan—and the level of hunger is serious in 34 countries. Food insecurity persists in some areas, even in regions and countries that are performing well and showing signs of progress. For example, bucking the trend, five countries have achieved a reduction of five points or more in their GHI score between 2016 and 2024. (Source: Global Hunger Index Report, 2024) The main reasons for the high Index in these countries are conflicts and instability ,economic challenges ,Climate droughts and floods, structural inequalities, corruption, and inadequate and anti people policies of governments.
Ranking India and Her Neighbours
India’s ranking in the Hunger Index Report 2024 (105) is behind its neighbours—Sri Lanka (56), Nepal (68), and Bangladesh (84), while only above Pakistan (109) and Afghanistan (116). The following table shows this fact regarding India’s ranking and the ranking of neighbouring countries:
S. No. Country Name Ranking
1. Sri Lanka 56
2. Nepal 68
3. Bangladesh 84
4. India 105
5. Pakistan 109
6 Afghanistan 116
(Source: Global Hunger Index Report 2024)
The Path to eradicating Hunger: Passes through farmers’ fields
The following suggestions are presented to overcome hunger:
First, the path to eliminating hunger passes through the farmers’ fields. This is why farmers’ organisations have repeatedly insisted on implementing the recommendations of the Swaminathan Report (2006). To implement this report, the historic movement of farmers on the Delhi border lasted for 378 days in 2020-21. About 750 farmers were martyred in this movement. Although the government withdrew the three agricultural laws, it did not implement the minimum support price (CTU + 50%) based on the Swaminathan report. Farmers should be given the minimum price of crops on the basis of the C2 + 50% formula, and the increase in prices of agricultural inputs should be prevented. It is very essential to make a law regarding the minimum support price. Farmers have been struggling for a long time regarding this demand. There is a need to stop the wastage of crops and develop infrastructure in rural areas. The co-operative societies will be of a great help in making agriculture and farmers more prosperous.
(Dr. Ramjilal, ‘Poverty, hunger and malnutrition in India: The dark side of the picture of economic development,’ Sajag Samaj, Karnal, December 2017, pp. 5-9 and 15)
Second, eradication of corruption: The biggest thing is that during floods or famines, there is a flood of corruption. In this context, the famous journalist, father of rural journalism and protector of Indian farmers, P. Sainath, published his book {Sainath. P, Everybody Loves a Good Drought: Stories from India’s Poorest Districts, Penguin, 1996} 28 years ago. Sainath has written that officials consider floods and droughts (famines) as ‘good’ because they reap their ‘third crop’, that is, about 25 percent of the government money set aside for flood and famine relief work, they reap as ‘third crop’ (corruption). It is very important to stop this third crop (corruption). (Sainath. P, Everybody Loves a Good Drought: Stories from India’s Poorest Districts, Penguin, 1996}
Third, Need to change in economic policies from liberalization to Socialism: The Indian government must change its economic policies. Due to the corporatization of the economic system, the gap between the rich and the poor is constantly increasing and it is impossible to eradicate poverty and hunger on the basis of the ‘trickle-down theory.’The policy of the ‘trickle-down theory’ should be abandoned and policies should be on the basis of socialist thinking so that the welfare of the people is maximised. About 2400 years ago, Aristotle, a famous Greek scholar of political Science (384 BC–322 BC), while describing the purpose of the state in his famous book Politics, wrote that “the state came into existence for the sake of life and exists for a good life.” The ordinary person is waiting for good days and a good life so that overall development can take place.
Fourth, improvement in health services: Government health services should be strengthened in the health sector. Chirayu-Ayushman Bharat Yojana is a great scheme. But the general public is getting less benefit from it. Due to its linkage with private hospitals and the nexus between the health department’s officials and doctors, it is full of corruption. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to delink this scheme from private hospitals and completely link it with government hospitals and medical colleges so that decent health services can be made available to all citizens.
Fifth, elimination of unemployment and hunger: Unemployment and hunger are also closely related. Due to unemployment, problems—food, clothing, housing, education, clean drinking water, and health—are faced by the common people. Therefore, vacancies in the public sector should be filled permanently so that basic needs can be fulfilled and freedom from exploitation can be achieved.
Sixth, it is absolutely necessary to make the public distribution system flawless. A midday meal is a boon for the education and health of children. Efforts should be made to make it more nutritious. Increasing the amount of MNREGA and more than 100 days will improve rural life. Consequently, it will be possible to eradicate poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. About 81 crore people are getting great relief due to free ration distribution by the Government of India. This scheme should continue to eradicate hunger so that not a single Indian sleeps hungry.
Seventh, public interest orientation of government employees: To implement government policies, the attitude of government employees should be public-friendly. Strictest action is necessary against those employees who are negligent in implementing policies or indulge in corruption.
(Dr. RamjiLal, ‘Poverty, Hunger, and Malnutrition in India: The Dark Side of the Picture of Economic Development’, Sajag Samaj, Karnal, December 2017, pp. 5-9 and 15).
Eighth, the capitalist-friendly ‘NPA Policy’ should be stopped. Most importantly, the public sector should be promoted by stopping the facilities given to the capitalists by the governments, and the ‘NPA Policy’ adopted by the banks to give relief to the capitalists should be stopped, and the banks should be saved from “Mundan Sanskar.” In other words, the Neo-liberal policies initiated by Dr. Manmohan Singh (Finance Minister) and Narasimha Rao (Prime Minister) after 1991 and furthered by the UPA and NDA governments need to be closed. Because these policies have benefitted the capitalist class instead of the ordinary people.
In summary, since the path to eradicating hunger passes through farmers’ fields, reforms in the agricultural sector are necessary, among other things
