Even while the world is progressing rapidly in many areas, the Global Hunger Index (GHI) serves as a sobering reminder of the obstacles mankind still faces. Following the release of the GHI 2023, India is now facing some harsh facts. According to a survey based on the score, India, which was once praised for its economic development and potential, has fallen four spots to number 111 out of 125 countries. There is little doubt that India’s score of 28.7 on the GHI demonstrates a very high degree of hunger. We’ll dive into this depressing news, consider its ramifications, and look at some possible remedies for India’s ongoing food issue in this blog article.

The GHI in 2023: A Troubling Backslide

India’s rating of 111th out of 125 nations in the 2023 Global Hunger Index delivers a clear message. A potent instrument for tracking and measuring hunger globally, regionally, and nationally is the GHI. A score of 28.7 indicates a severe case of hunger inside the boundaries of India, indicating a pervasive problem that requires quick treatment. To put things in perspective, India came in at position 107 out of 121 nations in 2022. This reversal indicates that rather than getting better, India’s food situation is getting worse.

India’s Neighbors Fare Better

Surprisingly, the GHI 2023 shows that neighbouring nations of India are doing better. Nepal is ranked 69th, Bangladesh is ranked 81st, Pakistan is ranked 102nd, and Sri Lanka is a shining 60th. The striking disparity begs the issue of what causes India’s worrisome levels of hunger. Although the size of India’s population and economy have frequently been seen as advantage, this also implies that the country has a heavy burden of ensuring the welfare of its people.

High Child Wasting Rate: A Silent Crisis

The most devastating figure from the GHI 2023 research is that India has the highest global rate of child wasting (18.7%). Acute undernutrition is measured by child wasting, which focuses on a kid’s weight in relation to their height. The nutritional catastrophe that India’s youngsters are facing is starkly reflected in this report. It is critical to comprehend how this number affects people in real life. Numerous young lives that are stunted and struggle as a result of inadequate nourishment are hidden behind the stats.

The Bigger Picture: Global Hunger Stagnation

Despite modest progress up to 2015, the global fight against hunger is still essentially at a halt, according to the GHI 2023. The overall score of 18.3, which is deemed moderate, is just somewhat lower than the 19.1 score from 2015. The trend in undernourishment prevalence, which is one of the elements taken into account when determining the GHI, is even more worrisome. According to the index, the number of people who are undernourished has increased from 572 million to an astounding 735 million since 2017. This serves as a sobering reminder that the world’s hunger issue requires greater action from all of us.

 A Call to Action

India’s hunger condition is shown in a frightening way in the Global Hunger Index 2023, which should serve as a wake-up call for all of us. Even while we can’t alter the past, we can influence the future. It’s imperative that we tackle the underlying causes of India’s hunger problem and seek long-term remedies. This is not only a problem for legislators; governments, corporations, civil society organisations, and ordinary citizens must all work together to fulfil this shared obligation.