Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::index() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 150
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 97
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
deprecationWarning - CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311
Cake\Http\ServerRequest::offsetGet() - CORE/src/Http/ServerRequest.php, line 2421
App\Controller\ArtileDetailController::index() - APP/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line 151
Cake\Controller\Controller::invokeAction() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 610
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 120
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 94
Cake\Http\BaseApplication::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/BaseApplication.php, line 235
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/RoutingMiddleware.php, line 162
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Routing/Middleware/AssetMiddleware.php, line 97
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware::__invoke() - CORE/src/Error/Middleware/ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php, line 96
Cake\Http\Runner::__invoke() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 65
Cake\Http\Runner::run() - CORE/src/Http/Runner.php, line 51
Cake\Http\Server::run() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 98
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
if (Configure::read('debug')) {
trigger_error($message, E_USER_WARNING);
} else {
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {
'status' => (int) 200,
'contentType' => 'text/html',
'headers' => [
'Content-Type' => [
[maximum depth reached]
]
],
'file' => null,
'fileRange' => [],
'cookies' => object(Cake\Http\Cookie\CookieCollection) {},
'cacheDirectives' => [],
'body' => '<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie6" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie7" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]>
<html class="ie ie8" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gte IE 9)|!(IE)]><!-->
<html lang='en'>
<!--<![endif]-->
<head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<title>
Hunger / HDI | Hunger Overview </title>
<meta name="description" content="
KEY TRENDS
• As per the 2019 Global Hunger Index report, neighbouring countries such as China (GHI score: 6.5; GHI rank: 25), Sri Lanka (GHI score: 17.1; GHI rank: 66), Myanmar (GHI score: 19.8; GHI rank: 69), Nepal (GHI score: 20.8; GHI rank: 73), Bangladesh (GHI score:..."/>
<meta name="keywords" content="im4change, corruption, food security, Right To Education, malnutrition, Hunger, Health, MNREGA"/>
<meta name="news_keywords" content="im4change, corruption, food security, Right To Education, malnutrition, Hunger, Health, MNREGA">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ROR" href="/ror.xml"/>
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/feeds/"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/bootstrap.min.css?1697864993"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css?v=1.1.2"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style-inner.css?1577045210"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="Oswald-css"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Oswald%3Aregular%2C700&ver=3.8.1" type="text/css"
media="all">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery.modal.min.css?1578285302"/> <script src="/js/jquery-1.10.2.js?1575549704"></script> <script src="/js/jquery-migrate.min.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" title="Favicon">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery-ui.css?1580720609"/> <script src="/js/jquery-ui.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/custom.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery.modal.min.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery-ui.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/li-scroller.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<!-- <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous"> -->
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style-inner.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href="//im4change.org/css/custom.css" crossorigin >
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/bootstrap.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.li-scroller.1.0.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.modal.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.ui.totop.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-1.10.2.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-migrate.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-ui.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/setting.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/tie-scripts.js">
<!--[if IE]>
<script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(".menu-item").has("ul").children("a").attr("aria-haspopup", "true");
});</script>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="/js/html5.js"></script>
<script src="/js/selectivizr-min.js"></script>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8]>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/css/ie8.css"/>
<![endif]-->
<meta property="og:title" content="Hunger / HDI | Hunger Overview" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26" />
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
<meta property="og:description" content="
KEY TRENDS
• As per the 2019 Global Hunger Index report, neighbouring countries such as China (GHI score: 6.5; GHI rank: 25), Sri Lanka (GHI score: 17.1; GHI rank: 66), Myanmar (GHI score: 19.8; GHI rank: 69), Nepal (GHI score: 20.8; GHI rank: 73), Bangladesh (GHI score:..." />
<meta property="og:image" content="" />
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="0" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple1.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple2.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple3.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple4.png">
<style>
.gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
top: 38% !important;
height: 50% !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
border-color: #035588 !important;
background-color: #035588 !important;
}
.gsib_a{
height: 30px !important;
padding: 2px 8px 1px 6px !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
height: 41px !important;
}
input.gsc-input{
background: none !important;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
top: 11% !important;
width: 87% !important;
left: 9% !important;
height: 43% !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
padding: 10px 10px !important;
}
.gsc-input-box{
height: 28px !important;
}
/* .gsib_a {
padding: 0px 9px 4px 9px !important;
}*/
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 1200px) and (max-width: 1920px) {
table.gsc-search-box{
width: 15% !important;
float: right !important;
margin-top: -118px !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2 {
padding: 6px !important;
}
}
</style>
<script>
$(function () {
$("#accordion").accordion({
event: "click hoverintent"
});
});
/*
* hoverIntent | Copyright 2011 Brian Cherne
* http://cherne.net/brian/resources/jquery.hoverIntent.html
* modified by the jQuery UI team
*/
$.event.special.hoverintent = {
setup: function () {
$(this).bind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
},
teardown: function () {
$(this).unbind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
},
handler: function (event) {
var currentX, currentY, timeout,
args = arguments,
target = $(event.target),
previousX = event.pageX,
previousY = event.pageY;
function track(event) {
currentX = event.pageX;
currentY = event.pageY;
}
;
function clear() {
target
.unbind("mousemove", track)
.unbind("mouseout", clear);
clearTimeout(timeout);
}
function handler() {
var prop,
orig = event;
if ((Math.abs(previousX - currentX) +
Math.abs(previousY - currentY)) < 7) {
clear();
event = $.Event("hoverintent");
for (prop in orig) {
if (!(prop in event)) {
event[prop] = orig[prop];
}
}
// Prevent accessing the original event since the new event
// is fired asynchronously and the old event is no longer
// usable (#6028)
delete event.originalEvent;
target.trigger(event);
} else {
previousX = currentX;
previousY = currentY;
timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
}
}
timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
target.bind({
mousemove: track,
mouseout: clear
});
}
};
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-472075-3']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function () {
var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.css?v=1.16"/> <script src="/js/jquery.ui.totop.js?1575549704"></script> <script src="/js/setting.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#616163" />
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black">
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="im4change">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/icons/logo-192x192.png">
</head>
<body id="top" class="home inner blog">
<div class="background-cover"></div>
<div class="wrapper animated">
<header id="theme-header" class="header_inner" style="position: relative;">
<div class="logo inner_logo" style="left:20px !important">
<a title="Home" href="https://im4change.in/">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" class="logo_image" alt="im4change"/> </a>
</div>
<div class="langhindi" style="color: #000;display:none;"
href="https://im4change.in/">
<a class="more-link" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hindi/" class="langbutton ">हिन्दी</a>
</div>
<nav class="fade-in animated2" id="main-nav">
<div class="container">
<div class="main-menu">
<ul class="menu" id="menu-main">
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children"
style="left: -40px;"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item mega-menu menu-item-type-taxonomy mega-menu menu-item-object-category mega-menu menu-item-has-children parent-list"
style=" margin-left: -40px;"><a href="#">KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY <span class="sub-indicator"></span>
</a>
<div class="mega-menu-block background_menu" style="padding-top:25px;">
<div class="container">
<div class="mega-menu-content">
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Farm Crisis</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/farmers039-suicides-14.html"
class="left postionrel">Farm Suicides </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/unemployment-30.html"
class="left postionrel">Unemployment </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/rural-distress-70.html"
class="left postionrel">Rural distress </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/migration-34.html"
class="left postionrel">Migration </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/key-facts-72.html"
class="left postionrel">Key Facts </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/debt-trap-15.html"
class="left postionrel">Debt Trap </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Empowerment</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/union-budget-73.html"
class="left postionrel">Union Budget And Other Economic Policies </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/forest-and-tribal-rights-61.html"
class="left postionrel">Forest and Tribal Rights </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-education-60.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Education </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-food-59.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Food </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/displacement-3279.html"
class="left postionrel">Displacement </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-work-mg-nrega-39.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Work (MG-NREGA) </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/gender-3280.html"
class="left postionrel">GENDER </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-information-58.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Information </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/social-audit-48.html"
class="left postionrel">Social Audit </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Hunger / HDI</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/poverty-and-inequality-20499.html"
class="left postionrel">Poverty and inequality </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/malnutrition-41.html"
class="left postionrel">Malnutrition </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/public-health-51.html"
class="left postionrel">Public Health </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/education-50.html"
class="left postionrel">Education </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html"
class="left postionrel">Hunger Overview </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hdi-overview-45.html"
class="left postionrel">HDI Overview </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/pds-ration-food-security-42.html"
class="left postionrel">PDS/ Ration/ Food Security </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/sdgs-113.html"
class="left postionrel">SDGs </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/mid-day-meal-scheme-mdms-53.html"
class="left postionrel">Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Environment</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/time-bomb-ticking-52.html"
class="left postionrel">Time Bomb Ticking </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/water-and-sanitation-55.html"
class="left postionrel">Water and Sanitation </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/impact-on-agriculture-54.html"
class="left postionrel">Impact on Agriculture </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Law & Justice</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/social-justice-20500.html"
class="left postionrel">Social Justice </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/access-to-justice-47.html"
class="left postionrel">Access to Justice </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/human-rights-56.html"
class="left postionrel">Human Rights </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/corruption-35.html"
class="left postionrel">Corruption </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/general-insecurity-46.html"
class="left postionrel">General Insecurity </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/disaster-relief-49.html"
class="left postionrel">Disaster & Relief </a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page "><a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/nceus_reports.php">NCEUS reports</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children parent-list ">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About Us <span
class="sub-indicator"></span></a>
<ul class="sub-menu aboutmenu">
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html">Objectives</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/contactus.php">Contact
Us</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About
Us</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children ">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/fellowships.php" title="Fellowships">Fellowships</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php">Workshops</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/research.php">Research</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/links-64">Partners</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children"
id="menu-item-539"><a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hindi/"
class="langbutton langlinkfont17">हिन्दी</a></li>
</ul>
</div> </div>
<!-- <div style="float: right;">
<script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=18b4f2e0f11bed3dd"></script>
<div class="gcse-search"></div>
</div> -->
<div class="search-block" style=" margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 7px;">
<form method="get" id="searchform" name="searchform"
action="https://im4change.in/search"
onsubmit="return searchvalidate();">
<button class="search-button" type="submit" value="Search"></button>
<input type="text" id="s" name="qryStr" value=""
onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search...') {this.value = '';}"
onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search...';}">
</form>
</div>
</nav>
</header>
<div class="container">
<div id="main-content" class=" main1 container fade-in animated3 sidebar-narrow-left">
<div class="content-wrap">
<div class="content" style="width: 900px;min-height: 500px;">
<div class="background_inner innBack" align="center">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/backgrounders/hunger-overview-shambhu-gha.jpg"
alt="Hunger Overview"
class="box_shadow mt5"/>
</div>
<section class="cat-box recent-box innerCatRecent">
<h1 class="cat-box-title">Hunger Overview</h1>
<a href="JavaScript:void(0);" onclick="return shareArticle(12);">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/email.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/> </a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40/print"
rel="nofollow">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/icon-print.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>
</a>
</section>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 10px;">
<div class="innerLineHeight">
<div class="middleContent innerInput hunger-hdi">
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="rightSideContent" style="float: right; width: 300px; margin-left: 10px;">
<div class="box warning" style="padding: 12px;">
<div class="box-inner-block" style="padding-left: 0px;">
<div class="starlist">
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px;">What's Inside</h2>
<ul class="whatsinside">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=2#2022-global-hunger-index-food-systems-transformation-and-local-governance39-released-in-october-2022">2022 Global Hunger Index: Food Systems Transformation and Local Governance' (released in October 2022)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=3#2022-edition-of-the-state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world-sofi-report">2022 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#another-perfect-storm-released-in-may-2022">Another Perfect Storm? (released in May, 2022)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#2021-global-hunger-indexnbsp-hunger-and-food-systems-in-conflict-settings-released-in-october-2021">2021 Global Hunger Index -- Hunger and Food Systems in Conflict Settings (released in October, 2021)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#statement-of-ministry-of-women-and-child-development-on-global-hunger-report-2021-dated-15th-october-2021">Statement of Ministry of Women and Child Development on Global Hunger Report 2021 dated 15th October, 2021</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5#the-hunger-virus-multiplies-released-on-9th-july-2021">The Hunger Virus Multiplies (released on 9th July, 2021)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5#2020-global-hunger-index-one-decade-to-zero-hunger-linking-health-and-sustainable-food-systems-released-in-october-2020">2020 Global Hunger Index: One Decade to Zero Hunger -- Linking Health and Sustainable Food Systems (released in October, 2020)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=6#the-state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world-2020-transforming-food-systems-for-affordable-healthy-diets-released-in-july-2020">The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020: Transforming Food Systems for Affordable Healthy Diets (released in July 2020)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=7#2019-global-hunger-index-the-challenge-of-hunger-and-climate-change-released-in-october-2019">2019 Global Hunger Index: The Challenge of Hunger and Climate Change (released in October, 2019)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=8#2018-global-hunger-index-forced-migration-and-hunger">2018 Global Hunger Index: Forced Migration and Hunger</a>
</li>
</ul>
<div><a href="javascript:void(0)" id="morewhatsinsidelink" onClick="javascript:$('#morewhatsinside').show();$('#morewhatsinsidelink').hide();$('#lesswhatsinsidelink').show();">More</a></div>
<ul class="whatsinside" id="morewhatsinside" style="display:none">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=9#2017-global-hunger-index-the-inequalities-of-hunger-released-in-october-2017">2017 Global Hunger Index: The Inequalities of Hunger (released in October 2017)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=10#2016-global-hunger-index-getting-to-zero-hunger-released-in-october-2016">2016 Global Hunger Index: Getting to Zero Hunger (released in October 2016) </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=11#2015-global-hunger-index-armed-conflict-and-the-challenge-of-hunger-released-in-october-2015">2015 Global Hunger Index: Armed Conflict and the Challenge of Hunger (released in October 2015)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=12#state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2015-released-in-may-2015">State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015 (released in May 2015)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=13#global-hunger-index-2014">Global Hunger Index 2014</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=14#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2014">The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=15#global-hunger-index-2013">Global Hunger Index 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=16#food-wastage-footprints-impacts-on-natural-resources-2013">Food Wastage Footprints: Impacts on Natural Resources (2013)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=17#the-state-of-food-and-agriculture-2013">The State of Food and Agriculture 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=18#nss-66th-round-report-titled-perceived-adequacy-of-food-consumption-in-indian-households-july-2009-june-2010-span-stylefont-familyarialhelveticasans-serif-font-sizemediumpublished-in-february-2013span">NSS 66th Round Report titled: Perceived Adequacy of Food Consumption in Indian Households July 2009-June 2010 (published in February, 2013)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=19#summary-of-the-national-food-security-bill-2013">Summary of the National Food Security Bill 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=20#2013-hunger-report-within-reach-global-development-goals-2012">2013 Hunger Report-Within Reach Global Development Goals (2012)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=21#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2012">The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22#oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook-2012-2021">OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22#global-monitoring-report-2012-food-prices-nutrition-and-the-millennium-development-goals">Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=23#state-of-world-population-2011">State of World Population 2011</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24#food-sovereignty-reclaiming-the-global-food-system-2011">Food sovereignty: Reclaiming the global food system (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-how-does-international-price-volatility-affect-domestic-economies-and-food-security-2011">The State of Food Insecurity in the World: How does international price volatility affect domestic economies and food security? (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25#nourish-south-asia-grow-a-better-future-for-regional-food-justice">Nourish South Asia: Grow a better future for regional food justice</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#global-food-losses-and-food-waste-extent-causes-and-prevention-food-and-agriculture-organization-2011">Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, Causes and Prevention, Food and Agriculture Organization (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#2010-global-hunger-index">2010 Global Hunger Index</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2008">The State of Food Insecurity in the World-2008 </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#report-on-the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-rural-india-2009">Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Rural India (2009)</a>
</li>
</ul>
<div><a style="display:none" href="javascript:void(0)" id="lesswhatsinsidelink" onClick="javascript:$('#morewhatsinside').hide();$('#morewhatsinsidelink').show();$('#lesswhatsinsidelink').hide();">Less</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify">According to <a name="global-food-losses-and-food-waste-extent-causes-and-prevention-food-and-agriculture-organization-2011">Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, Causes and Prevention, Food and Agriculture Organization (2011)</a>,<br /><a href="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/GFL_web.pdf" title="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/GFL_web.pdf">http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/<br />GFL_web.pdf</a>: <br /><br />• Roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year.<br /><br />• Overall, on a per-capita basis, much more food is wasted in the industrialized world than in developing countries. It is estimated that the per capita food waste by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.<br /><br />• Food losses refer to the decrease in edible food mass throughout the part of the supply chain that specifically leads to edible food for human consumption. Food losses take place at production, postharvest and processing stages in the food supply chain. Food losses occurring at the end of the food chain (retail and final consumption) are rather called “food waste”, which relates to retailers’ and consumers’ behavior.<br /><br />• In low-income countries food is mainly lost during the early and middle stages of the food supply chain; much less food is wasted at the consumer level. Food losses in industrialized countries are as high as in developing countries, but in developing countries more than 40% of the food losses occur at post harvest and processing levels, while in industrialized countries, more than 40% of the food losses occur at retail and consumer levels. Food waste at consumer level in industrialized countries (222 million ton) is almost as high as the total net food production in sub-Saharan Africa (230 million ton).<br /><br />• The causes of food losses and waste in low-income countries are mainly connected to financial, managerial and technical limitations in harvesting techniques, storage and cooling facilities in difficult climatic conditions, infrastructure, packaging and marketing systems. Producing food that will not be consumed leads to unnecessary CO2 emissions in addition to loss of economic value of the food produced.<br /><br />• Food can be wasted due to quality standards, which reject food items not perfect in shape or appearance. At the consumer level, insufficient purchase planning and expiring ‘best-before-dates’ also cause large amounts of waste, in combination with the careless attitude of those consumers who can afford to waste food.<br /><br />• Per capita food loss in Europe and North-America is 280-300 kg/year. In Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia it is 120-170 kg/year. The total per capita production of edible parts of food for human consumption is, in Europe and North-America, about 900 kg/year and, in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia, 460 kg/year.<br /><br />• Per capita food wasted by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.<br /><br />• In the case of meat and meat products losses and waste in industrialized regions are most severe at the end of the food supply chain—FSC, explained by a high per capita meat consumption combined with large waste proportions by retailers and consumers, especially in Europe and the U.S. Waste at the consumption level makes up approximately half of total meat losses and waste.<br /> </p><div><p style="text-align:justify"><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to John, Mason, Hunt, Joseph, Parker, David and Jonsson, Urban (1999): Investing in Child Nutrition in Asia, Asian Development Review, Vol. 17, nos. 1,2, pp. 1-32, </span></em><br /><em><a href="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care." title="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care.">http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17<br />-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf</a></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• About half the preschool children in Asia are considered to be malnourished, ranging from 16 percent underweight in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to 64 percent in Bangladesh, and a similar percentage are deficient in one or more micronutrients.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify">• Poor diet and infectious disease interact to cause growth failure in children, physiological damage especially to the immune system, and specific clinical conditions like anemia, leading to impaired development and death.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Malnutrition is the largest risk factor in the world for disability and premature mortality, especially in developing countries, and is entirely preventable. Eliminating malnutrition would cut child mortality by more than 50 percent, and reduce the burden of disease in developing countries by about 20 percent</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Micronutrient deficiencies, measured by specific signs, are very widespread, in fact more so than general malnutrition, in part because the poor first meet energy needs, and the cheapest energy sources are the lowest in micronutrients. The three of most concern are vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency, usually assessed as anemia, and iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs).</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Anemia resulting from iron deficiency is highly prevalent and showing no signs of declining in Asia. More than half the women of reproductive age are anemic, and children are similarly affected</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to <a name="2010-global-hunger-index">2010 Global Hunger Index</a>, which has been brought out by International Food Policy research Institute (IFPRI), <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger-index-crisis-child-undernutrition" title="http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger-index-crisis-child-undernutrition">http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger<br />-index-crisis-child-undernutrition</a>: </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The 2010 Global Hunger Index (GHI) is calculated for 122 developing countries and countries in transition for which data on the three components of hunger are available.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The Index scores countries based on three equally weighted indicators: the proportion of people who are undernourished, the proportion of children under five who are underweight, and the child mortality rate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The Index ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst, although neither of these extremes is reached in practice.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• An increase in a country’s GHI score indicates that the hunger situation is worsening, while a decrease in the score indicates an improvement in the country’s hunger situation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• This year’s GHI reflects data from 2003-2008—the most recent available global data on the three components of hunger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Since 1990, the world’s GHI score has decreased by nearly 25 percent. However, global hunger remains at a “serious” level.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa continue to suffer from the highest levels of hunger, with regional scores of 22.9 and 21.7, respectively.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Vietnam made the most absolute progress in improving their scores between the 1990 GHI and 2010 GHI. In the same period, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Tunisia, and Turkey made the most relative progress in reducing hunger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Undernutrition signifies deficiencies in energy, protein, and/or essential vitamins and minerals. Undernutrition is the result of inadequate intake of food—in terms of either quality or quantity—or poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illnesses, or a combination of these two factors.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Bangladesh, India, and Timor-Leste have the highest prevalence of underweight children in Asia– 40 percent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>Bangladesh: </em>Over the past 25 years, Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing its under-five mortality rate, as well as the prevalence of underweight and stunted children. Despite these improvements, 54 out of every 1,000 children do not survive to their fifth birthday and a staggering 43 percent of Bangladeshi children are stunted, accounting for almost 4 percent of stunted children worldwide.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>China: </em>Between 1990 and 2002, China reduced child malnutrition from 25 percent to 8 percent with a highly successful poverty alleviation strategy; effective large-scale health, nutrition, and family-planning interventions; and increased spending on water, sanitation, and education.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>India: </em>Between 1990 and 2008, the prevalence of underweight children dropped from 60 percent to 44 percent, while the under-five mortality rate fell from 12 percent to 7 percent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• In 2005-06, about 44 percent of Indian children under age five were underweight and 48 percent were stunted. Because of the country’s large population, India is home to 42 percent of the world’s underweight children and 31 percent of its stunted children. </span></div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>Malaysia:</em> Between 1990 and 2005, the proportion of children who were underweight decreased from 22 percent to 7 percent. This impressive reduction can be attributed to rapid economic growth, as well as interventions targeted to women and young children.<br /><br />• <em>Thailand: </em>During the 1980s, Thailand halved malnutrition from 50 percent to 25 percent by using targeted nutrition interventions and creating a widespread network of community volunteers to help change people’s behavior.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"><em>According to The State of Food Insecurity in the World: Addressing food insecurity in protracted crises, which has been brought out by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme, <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf" title="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf">http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf</a>: </em><br /><br />• The number of undernourished people in the world remains unacceptably high at near the one billion mark despite an expected decline in 2010 for the first time since 1995. This decline is largely attributable to increased economic growth foreseen in 2010 – particularly in developing countries – and the fall in international food prices since 2008.<br /><br />• A total of 925 million people are still estimated to be undernourished in 2010, representing almost 16 percent of the population of developing countries. The fact that nearly a billion people remain hungry even after the recent food and financial crises have largely passed indicates a deeper structural problem that gravely threatens the ability to achieve internationally agreed goals on hunger reduction: the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and the 1996 World Food Summit goal.<br /><br />• In the 22 countries identified by this report as being in protracted crisis (or containing areas in protracted crisis), the most recent data show that more than 166 million people are undernourished, representing nearly 40 percent of the population of these countries and nearly 20 percent of all undernourished people in the world.<br /><br />• This unacceptably high degree of hunger results from many factors, including armed conflict and natural disasters, often in combination with weak governance or public administration, scarce resources, unsustainable livelihoods systems and breakdown of local institutions.<br /><br />• On average, the proportion of people who are undernourished is almost three times as high in countries in protracted crisis as in other developing countries (if countries in protracted crisis and China and India are excluded). There are approximately 166 million undernourished people in countries in protracted crisis – roughly 20 percent of the world’s undernourished people, or more than a third of the global total if China and India are excluded from the calculation.<br /><br />• A deeper analysis of the relationship between protracted crisis and food security outcomes shows that changes in income, government effectiveness, control of corruption and the number of years in crisis are significantly related to the proportion of the population who are undernourished. These factors, plus education, are also all significantly related to a country’s Global Hunger Index.<br /><br />• Based on the latest available data, the total number of undernourished people in the world is estimated to have reached 1 023 million in 2009 and is expected to decline by 9.6 percent to 925 million in 2010. Developing countries account for 98 percent of the world’s undernourished people and have a prevalence of undernourishment of 16 percent – down from 18 percent in 2009 but still well above the target set by the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1.<br /><br />• International cereal prices have declined in recent months and are below their recent peaks, reflecting ample global cereal supplies in 2009/10 and prospects for large crops in 2010, but food prices in most low-income food-deficit countries remain above the pre-crisis level of early 2008, negatively affecting access to food by vulnerable populations.<br /><br />• Vulnerable households deal with shocks by selling assets, which are very difficult to rebuild, by reducing food consumption in terms of quantity and variety and by cutting down on health and education expenditures – coping mechanisms that all have long-term negative effects on quality of life and livelihoods.<br /><br />• The majority of the world’s undernourished people live in developing countries. Two-thirds live in just seven countries (Bangladesh, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Pakistan) and over 40 percent live in China and India alone.<br /><br />• The region with most undernourished people continues to be Asia and the Pacific, but with a 12 percent decline from 658 million in 2009 to 578 million, this region also accounts for most of the global improvement expected in 2010.<br /><br />• Developing countries as a group have seen an overall setback in terms of the World Food Summit goal (from 827 million in 1990–92 to 906 million in 2010), while some progress has been made towards MDG 1 (with the prevalence of hunger declining from 20 percent undernourished in 1990–92 to 16 percent in 2010).<br /><br />• The proportion of undernourished people remains highest in sub-Saharan Africa, at 30 percent in 2010. As of 2005–07 (the most recent period for which complete data are available), the Congo, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria had already achieved MDG 1 and Ethiopia and others were close to achieving it; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, the proportion of undernourishment had risen to 69 percent (from 26 percent in 1990–92).<br /><br />• In Asia, Armenia, Myanmar and Viet Nam had achieved MDG 1 and China and others were close to doing so, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica and Nicaragua had achieved MDG 1 and Brazil and others were approaching the target reduction.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to the FAO Report-<a name="the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2008">The State of Food Insecurity in the World-2008 </a> </span><a href="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care." title="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care.">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf</a>: </p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em><strong>World hunger is increasing: </strong></em>The World Food Summit (WFS) goal of halving the number of undernourished people in the world by 2015 is becoming more difficult to reach for many countries. FAO’s most recent estimates put the number of hungry people at 923 million in 2007, an increase of more than 80 million since the 1990–92 base period.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify">• <em><strong>High food prices share much of the blame: </strong></em>The most rapid increase in chronic hunger experienced in recent years occurred between 2003–05 and 2007. FAO’s provisional estimates show that, in 2007, 75 million more people were added to the total number of undernourished relative to 2003–05. While several factors are responsible, high food prices are driving millions of people into food insecurity, worsening conditions for many who were already food-insecure, and threatening long-term global food security.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• <em><strong>The poorest, landless and female-headed households are the hardest hit: </strong></em>The vast majority of urban and rural households in the developing world rely on food purchases for most of their food and stand to lose from high food prices. High food prices reduce real income and worsen the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition among the poor by reducing the quantity and quality of food consumed.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Initial governmental policy responses have had limited effect: To contain the negative effects of high food prices, governments have introduced various measures, such as price controls and export restrictions. While understandable from an immediate social welfare perspective, many of these actions have been ad hoc and are likely to be ineffective and unsustainable. Some have had damaging effects on world price levels and stability.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• By virtue of their size, China and India combined account for 42 percent of the chronically hungry people in thedeveloping world. The importance of China and India in the overall picture warrants some analysis of the main driving forces behind hunger trends</p><p style="text-align:justify">• After registering impressive gains between 1990–92 and the mid-1990s, progress in reducing hunger in India has stalled since about 1995–97. The high proportion of undernourished in India in the base had a challenging task in reducing the number of undernourished</p><p style="text-align:justify">• The increase in the number of undernourished in India can be traced to a slowing in the growth (even a slight decline) in per capita dietary energy supply for human consumption since 1995–97. On the demand side, life expectancy in India has increased from 59 to 63 years since 1990–92. This has had an important impact on the overall change in population structure, with the result that in 2003–05 the growth in minimum dietary energy requirements had outpaced that of dietary energy supply</p><p style="text-align:justify">• The combination of the declining per capita growth rate in total dietary energy supply and higher per capita dietary energy requirements resulted in an estimated 24 million more undernourished people in India in 2003–05 compared with the base period. The increased food needs of the ageing population amount to about 6.5 million tonnes per year in cereal equivalent. Nevertheless, the prevalence of hunger in India decreased from 24 percent in 1990–92 to 21 percent in 2003–05, marking progress towards meeting the MDG hunger reduction target.</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p></div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to the <a name="report-on-the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-rural-india-2009">Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Rural India (2009)</a>, which has been prepared by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the World Food Programme (WFP),</span><br /><a href="http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:" title="http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:">http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsr<br />oom/wfp197348.pdf:</a></p><p style="text-align:justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• On the composite index of food insecurity of rural India, states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are found in the ‘very high’ level of food insecurity, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. The indicators used for computing the index of food insecurity in rural India are: a) Percentage of population consuming less than 1,890 Kcal /cu/diem; b) Percentage of households not having access to safe drinking water; c) Percentage of households not having access to toilets within the premises; d) Percentage of ever-married women age 15 – 49 years who are anaemic; e) Percentage of women (15 – 49 yrs) with CED; f) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are anaemic; and, g) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are stunted</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The better performers include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, all of which report an Index value below 0.5</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The proportion of population consuming less than 1890 kcal/cu/diem has in fact increased in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Rajasthan and marginally for Punjab.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Almost 2/3rd of rural households in Jharkhand did not have access to safe drinking water in 2001.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• More than 90 percent of rural households in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh did not have access to toilets within their premises.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• As many as eight states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – have shown increase in the incidence of anaemia among women in the reproductive age group. The highest increase in anaemia levels has been observed in Andhra Pradesh (51 to 64 percent), followed by Haryana (48 to 57 percent) and Kerala (23 to 32 percent).</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The proportion of women with CED has drastically increased for Assam (28 to 40 percent) followed by Bihar (40 to 46 percent), Madhya Pradesh (42 to 45 percent) and Haryana (31 to 33 percent).</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p> <br>
<div align="center" class="pagination">
<span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25" class="articlepagination">« previous</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=1" class="articlepagination">1</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=2" class="articlepagination">2</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=3" class="articlepagination">3</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4" class="articlepagination">4</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5" class="articlepagination">5</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=6" class="articlepagination">6</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=7" class="articlepagination">7</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=8" class="articlepagination">8</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=9" class="articlepagination">9</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=10" class="articlepagination">10</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=11" class="articlepagination">11</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=12" class="articlepagination">12</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=13" class="articlepagination">13</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=14" class="articlepagination">14</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=15" class="articlepagination">15</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=16" class="articlepagination">16</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=17" class="articlepagination">17</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=18" class="articlepagination">18</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=19" class="articlepagination">19</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=20" class="articlepagination">20</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=21" class="articlepagination">21</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22" class="articlepagination">22</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=23" class="articlepagination">23</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24" class="articlepagination">24</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25" class="articlepagination">25</a></span><span class="current">26</span><span class="disabled ">next »</span> </div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<br><a href='/experts.php' class='re'>Rural Expert</a><div class="clear"></div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div class="comment-respond" id="respond">
<a name="commentbox"> </a>
<h3 class="comment-reply-title" id="reply-title">Write Comments</h3>
<form method="post" accept-charset="utf-8" role="form" action="/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"><div style="display:none;"><input type="hidden" name="_method" value="POST"/></div> <form class="comment-form" id="commentform" method="post" action="#commentbox" onSubmit="return validate()"
name="cmtform">
<input type="hidden" name="cmttype" value="articlecmt"/>
<input type="hidden" name="article_id" value="12"/>
<p class="comment-notes">Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked <span
class="required">*</span></p>
<p class="comment-form-author">
<label for="commenterName">Name</label>
<span class="required">*</span>
<input type="text" aria-required="true" size="30"
value=""
name="commenterName" id="commenterName" required="true">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-email">
<label for="commenterEmail">Email</label> <span class="required">*</span>
<input aria-required="true" size="30" name="commenterEmail" id="commenterEmail" type="email"
value=""
required="true">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-contact">
<label for="commenterPh">Contact No.</label>
<input type="text" size="30"
value=""
name="commenterPh" id="commenterPh">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-comment">
<label for="comment">Comment</label>
<textarea aria-required="true" required="true" rows="8" cols="45" name="comment"
id="comment"></textarea>
</p>
<p class="comment-form-comment">
<label for="comment">Type the characters you see in the image below <span class="required">*</span><br><img
class="captchaImg"
src="https://im4change.in/securimage_show_art.php?tk=815708671" alt="captcha"/>
</label>
</p>
<input type="text" name="vrcode" required="true"/>
<p class="form-submit" style="width: 200px;">
<input type="submit" value="Post Comment" id="submit" name="submit">
</p></form>
</div>
<style>
.ui-widget-content {
height: auto !important;
}
</style>
<div id="share-modal"></div>
<style>
.middleContent a{
background-color: rgba(108,172,228,.2);
}
.middleContent a:hover{
background-color: #418fde;
border-color: #418fde;
color: #000;
}
</style>
<script>
function shareArticle(article_id) {
var options = {
modal: true,
height: 'auto',
width: 600 + 'px'
};
$('#share-modal').html("");
$('#share-modal').load('https://im4change.in/share_article?article_id=' + article_id).dialog(options).dialog('open');
}
function postShare() {
var param = 'article_id=' + $("#article_id").val();
param = param + '&y_name=' + $("#y_name").val();
param = param + '&y_email=' + $("#y_email").val();
param = param + '&f_name=' + $("#f_name").val();
param = param + '&f_email=' + $("#f_email").val();
param = param + '&y_msg=' + $("#y_msg").val();
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: 'https://im4change.in/post_share_article',
data: param,
success: function (response) {
$('#share-modal').html("Thank You, Your message posted to ");
}
});
return false;
}
</script> </div>
</div>
<!-- Right Side Section Start -->
<!-- MAP Section START -->
<aside class="sidebar indexMarg">
<div class="ad-cell">
<a href="https://im4change.in/statemap.php" title="">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/map_new_version.png?1582080666" alt="India State Map" class="indiamap" width="232" height="252"/> </a>
<div class="rightmapbox">
<div id="sideOne" class="docltitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/state-report/india/36" target="_blank">DOCUMENTS/
REPORTS</a></div>
<div id="sideTwo" class="statetitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/states.php"target="_blank">STATE DATA/
HDRs.</a></div>
</div>
<div class="widget widgePadTop"></div>
</div>
</aside>
<!-- MAP Section END -->
<aside class="sidebar sidePadbottom">
<div class="rightsmlbox1" >
<a href="https://im4change.in/knowledge_gateway" target="_blank" style="color: #035588;
font-size: 17px;">
KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY
</a>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
<a href="https://im4change.in/newsletter" target="_blank">
NEWSLETTER
</a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 325px;">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava
</p>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/interview-with-prof-ravi-srivastava-on-current-economic-crisis">
<img width="250" height="200" src="/images/interview_video_home.jpg" alt="Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava"/>
</a>
<!--
<iframe width="250" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmaTlntk-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>-->
</p>
<a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery" class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More videos
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<!--div id="sstory" class="rightboxicons"></div--->
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://im4change.in/list-success-stories" target="_blank">Success Stories</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
href="https://im4change.in/interviews" target="_blank">Interviews</a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://www.commoncause.in/page.php?id=10" >Donate</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
href="https://im4change.in/marquee"
class="isf_link more-link" title="India Focus?" style="border: 4px solid #fdd922;width: 90%;background-color: #fdd922;text-align: center;color: #000000;font-size:18px" target="_blank">India Focus</a></p> </div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 104px !important;">
<a href="https://im4change.in/quarterly_reports.php" target="_blank">
Quarterly Reports on Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India (2008 - 2015)
</a>
</div>
<!-- <div class="rightsmlbox1">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.im4.im4change" target="_blank">
</a></div> -->
<!-- <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
<h2 class="cat-box-title">Most Visited</h2>
</section> -->
<!-- accordion Starts here -->
<!-- <div id="accordion" class="accordMarg">
</div> -->
<!-- accordion ends here -->
<!-- Widget Tag Cloud Starts here -->
<div id="tag_cloud-2" class="widget widget_tag_cloud">
<section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
<h2 class="cat-box-title">MOST VISITED TAGS</h2>
</section>
<div class="widget-top wiPdTp">
<div class="stripe-line"></div>
</div>
<div class="widget-container">
<div class="tagcloud">
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Agriculture"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Agriculture</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Food Security"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Food Security</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Law and Justice"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Law and Justice</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Health"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Health</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Food"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Food</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Corruption"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Corruption</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=farming"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">farming</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Environment"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Environment</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Information"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Information</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=NREGS"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">NREGS</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Human Rights"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Human Rights</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Governance"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Governance</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PDS"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PDS</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=COVID-19"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">COVID-19</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Land Acquisition"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Land Acquisition</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=mgnrega"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">mgnrega</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farmers"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farmers</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=transparency"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">transparency</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Gender"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Gender</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Poverty"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Poverty</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farm Laws" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farm Laws
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Citizenship Amendment Act" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Citizenship Amendment Act
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=CAA NPR NRIC" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">CAA NPR NRIC
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Job Losses" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Job Losses
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Migrant Workers" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Migrant Workers
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Unemployment" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Unemployment
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PMGKAY" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PMGKAY
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-KISAN" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-KISAN
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-CARES" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-CARES
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=LFPR" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">LFPR
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Widget Tag Cloud Ends here -->
</aside>
<!-- Right Side Section End -->
</div>
<section class="cat-box cats-review-box footerSec">
<h2 class="cat-box-title vSec CatArcha">Video
Archives</h2>
<h2 class="cat-box-title CatArchaTitle">Archives</h2>
<div class="cat-box-content">
<div class="reviews-cat">
<div class="CatArchaDiv1">
<div class="CatArchaDiv2">
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/moving-upstream-luni-fellowship.html" target="_blank">
Moving Upstream: Luni – Fellowship </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/135-million-indians-exited-multidimensional-poverty-as-per-government-figures-is-that-the-same-as-poverty-reduction.html" target="_blank">
135 Million Indians Exited “Multidimensional" Poverty as per Government... </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/explainer-why-are-tomato-prices-on-fire.html" target="_blank">
Explainer: Why are Tomato Prices on Fire? </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/nsso-survey-only-39-1-of-all-households-have-drinking-water-within-dwelling-46-7-of-rural-households-use-firewood-for-cooking.html" target="_blank">
NSSO Survey: Only 39.1% of all Households have Drinking... </a>
</li>
<li class="CatArchalLi1">
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57"
class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More...
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/I51LYnP8BOk/1.jpg"
alt=" Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Short-Video-on-im4change-Hindi-website-Inclusive-Media-for-Change" target="_blank">
Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/kNqha-SwfIY/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-1- Scope-of-IDEA-and-AgriStack-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/6kIVjlgZItk/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-2-Farmer-Centric-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2BeHTu0y7xc/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-3-Future-of-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="divWidth">
<ul class="divWidthMarg">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Public-Spending-on-Agriculture-in-India-Source-Foundation-for-Agrarian-Studies"
title="Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for Agrarian Studies)" target="_blank">
Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Agrarian-Change-Seminar-Protests-against-the-New-Farm-Laws-in-India-by-Prof-Vikas-Rawal-JNU-Source-Journal-Of-Agrarian-Change"
title="Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws in India' by Prof. Vikas Rawal, JNU (Source: Journal Of Agrarian Change) " target="_blank">
Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Webinar-Ramrao-The-Story-of-India-Farm-Crisis-Source-Azim-Premji-University"
title="Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis (Source: Azim Premji University)" target="_blank">
Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/water-and-agricultural-transformation-in-India"
title="Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship (Source: IGIDR)" target="_blank">
Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship...</a>
</li>
<li class="CatArchalLi1">
<a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery"
class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More...
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section> </div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<!-- Footer option Starts here -->
<div class="footer-bottom fade-in animated4">
<div class="container">
<div class="social-icons icon_flat">
<p class="SocialMargTop"> Website Developed by <a target="_blank" title="Web Development"
class="wot right"
href="http://www.ravinderkhurana.com/" rel="nofollow">
RAVINDErkHURANA.com</a></p>
</div>
<div class="alignleft">
<a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html"
class="link"
title="Objectives">Objectives</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html"
class="link" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php"
class="ucwords">Workshops</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/disclaimer/disclaimer-149.html"
title="Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Footer option ends here -->
</div>
<div id="connect">
<a target="_blank"
href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"
title="Share on Facebook">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/Facebook.png?1582080640" alt="share on Facebook" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a><br/>
<a target="_blank"
href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Im4change&url=https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"
title="Share on Twitter">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/twitter.png?1582080632" alt="Twitter" class="ImgBorder"/> </a>
<br/>
<a href="/feeds" title="RSS Feed" target="_blank">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/rss.png?1582080632" alt="RSS" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a>
<br/>
<a class="feedback-link" id="feedbackFormLink" href="#">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/feedback.png?1582080630" alt="Feedback" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a> <br/>
<a href="javascript:function iprl5(){var d=document,z=d.createElement('scr'+'ipt'),b=d.body,l=d.location;try{if(!b)throw(0);d.title='(Saving...) '+d.title;z.setAttribute('src',l.protocol+'//www.instapaper.com/j/WKrH3R7ORD5p?u='+encodeURIComponent(l.href)+'&t='+(new Date().getTime()));b.appendChild(z);}catch(e){alert('Please wait until the page has loaded.');}}iprl5();void(0)"
class="bookmarklet" onclick="return explain_bookmarklet();">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/read-it-later.png?1582080632" alt="Read Later" class="ImgBorder"/> </a>
</div>
<!-- Feedback form Starts here -->
<div id="feedbackForm" class="overlay_form" class="ImgBorder">
<h2>Contact Form</h2>
<div id="contactform1">
<div id="formleft">
<form id="submitform" action="/contactus.php" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="submitform" value="submitform"/>
<input type="hidden" name="salt_key" value="a0e0f2c6a0644a70e57ad2c96829709a"/>
<input type="hidden" name="ref" value="feedback"/>
<fieldset>
<label>Name :</label>
<input type="text" name="name" class="tbox" required/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<label>Email :</label>
<input type="text" name="email" class="tbox" required/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<label>Message :</label>
<textarea rows="5" cols="20" name="message" required></textarea>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
Please enter security code
<div class="clear"></div>
<input type="text" name="vrcode" class="tbox"/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<input type="submit" class="button" value="Submit"/>
<a href="#" id="closefeedbakcformLink">Close</a>
</fieldset>
</form>
</div>
<div class="clearfix"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="donate_popup" class="modal" style="max-width: 800px;">
<table width="100%" border="1">
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<b>Support im4change</b>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%" valign="middle">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" alt="" width="100%"/> </td>
<td style="padding-left:10px;padding-top:10px;">
<form action="https://im4change.in/donate" method="get">
<table width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
<tr>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
10
</td>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
100
</td>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
1000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
50
</td>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
500
</td>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
<input type="text" name="price" placeholder="?" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="right">
<input type="button" name="Pay" value="Pay"
style="width: 200px;background-color: rgb(205, 35, 36);color: #ffffff;"/>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div><script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var tievar = {'go_to': 'Go to...'};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script src="/js/tie-scripts.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/bootstrap.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/jquery.modal.min.js?1578284310"></script><script>
$(document).ready(function() {
// tell the autocomplete function to get its data from our php script
$('#s').autocomplete({
source: "/autocomplete"
});
});
</script>
<script src="/vj-main-sw-register.js" async></script>
<script>function init(){var imgDefer=document.getElementsByTagName('img');for(var i=0;i<imgDefer.length;i++){if(imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src')){imgDefer[i].setAttribute('src',imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src'))}}}
window.onload=init;</script>
</body>
</html>'
}
$maxBufferLength = (int) 8192
$file = '/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php'
$line = (int) 853
$message = 'Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853'
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emit() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48
Cake\Http\Server::emit() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 141
[main] - ROOT/webroot/index.php, line 39
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {
'status' => (int) 200,
'contentType' => 'text/html',
'headers' => [
'Content-Type' => [
[maximum depth reached]
]
],
'file' => null,
'fileRange' => [],
'cookies' => object(Cake\Http\Cookie\CookieCollection) {},
'cacheDirectives' => [],
'body' => '<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie6" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie7" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]>
<html class="ie ie8" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gte IE 9)|!(IE)]><!-->
<html lang='en'>
<!--<![endif]-->
<head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<title>
Hunger / HDI | Hunger Overview </title>
<meta name="description" content="
KEY TRENDS
• As per the 2019 Global Hunger Index report, neighbouring countries such as China (GHI score: 6.5; GHI rank: 25), Sri Lanka (GHI score: 17.1; GHI rank: 66), Myanmar (GHI score: 19.8; GHI rank: 69), Nepal (GHI score: 20.8; GHI rank: 73), Bangladesh (GHI score:..."/>
<meta name="keywords" content="im4change, corruption, food security, Right To Education, malnutrition, Hunger, Health, MNREGA"/>
<meta name="news_keywords" content="im4change, corruption, food security, Right To Education, malnutrition, Hunger, Health, MNREGA">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ROR" href="/ror.xml"/>
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/feeds/"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/bootstrap.min.css?1697864993"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css?v=1.1.2"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style-inner.css?1577045210"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="Oswald-css"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Oswald%3Aregular%2C700&ver=3.8.1" type="text/css"
media="all">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery.modal.min.css?1578285302"/> <script src="/js/jquery-1.10.2.js?1575549704"></script> <script src="/js/jquery-migrate.min.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" title="Favicon">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery-ui.css?1580720609"/> <script src="/js/jquery-ui.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/custom.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery.modal.min.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery-ui.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/li-scroller.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<!-- <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous"> -->
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style-inner.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href="//im4change.org/css/custom.css" crossorigin >
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/bootstrap.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.li-scroller.1.0.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.modal.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.ui.totop.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-1.10.2.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-migrate.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-ui.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/setting.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/tie-scripts.js">
<!--[if IE]>
<script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(".menu-item").has("ul").children("a").attr("aria-haspopup", "true");
});</script>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="/js/html5.js"></script>
<script src="/js/selectivizr-min.js"></script>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8]>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/css/ie8.css"/>
<![endif]-->
<meta property="og:title" content="Hunger / HDI | Hunger Overview" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26" />
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
<meta property="og:description" content="
KEY TRENDS
• As per the 2019 Global Hunger Index report, neighbouring countries such as China (GHI score: 6.5; GHI rank: 25), Sri Lanka (GHI score: 17.1; GHI rank: 66), Myanmar (GHI score: 19.8; GHI rank: 69), Nepal (GHI score: 20.8; GHI rank: 73), Bangladesh (GHI score:..." />
<meta property="og:image" content="" />
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="0" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple1.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple2.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple3.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple4.png">
<style>
.gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
top: 38% !important;
height: 50% !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
border-color: #035588 !important;
background-color: #035588 !important;
}
.gsib_a{
height: 30px !important;
padding: 2px 8px 1px 6px !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
height: 41px !important;
}
input.gsc-input{
background: none !important;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
top: 11% !important;
width: 87% !important;
left: 9% !important;
height: 43% !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
padding: 10px 10px !important;
}
.gsc-input-box{
height: 28px !important;
}
/* .gsib_a {
padding: 0px 9px 4px 9px !important;
}*/
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 1200px) and (max-width: 1920px) {
table.gsc-search-box{
width: 15% !important;
float: right !important;
margin-top: -118px !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2 {
padding: 6px !important;
}
}
</style>
<script>
$(function () {
$("#accordion").accordion({
event: "click hoverintent"
});
});
/*
* hoverIntent | Copyright 2011 Brian Cherne
* http://cherne.net/brian/resources/jquery.hoverIntent.html
* modified by the jQuery UI team
*/
$.event.special.hoverintent = {
setup: function () {
$(this).bind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
},
teardown: function () {
$(this).unbind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
},
handler: function (event) {
var currentX, currentY, timeout,
args = arguments,
target = $(event.target),
previousX = event.pageX,
previousY = event.pageY;
function track(event) {
currentX = event.pageX;
currentY = event.pageY;
}
;
function clear() {
target
.unbind("mousemove", track)
.unbind("mouseout", clear);
clearTimeout(timeout);
}
function handler() {
var prop,
orig = event;
if ((Math.abs(previousX - currentX) +
Math.abs(previousY - currentY)) < 7) {
clear();
event = $.Event("hoverintent");
for (prop in orig) {
if (!(prop in event)) {
event[prop] = orig[prop];
}
}
// Prevent accessing the original event since the new event
// is fired asynchronously and the old event is no longer
// usable (#6028)
delete event.originalEvent;
target.trigger(event);
} else {
previousX = currentX;
previousY = currentY;
timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
}
}
timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
target.bind({
mousemove: track,
mouseout: clear
});
}
};
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-472075-3']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function () {
var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.css?v=1.16"/> <script src="/js/jquery.ui.totop.js?1575549704"></script> <script src="/js/setting.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#616163" />
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black">
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="im4change">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/icons/logo-192x192.png">
</head>
<body id="top" class="home inner blog">
<div class="background-cover"></div>
<div class="wrapper animated">
<header id="theme-header" class="header_inner" style="position: relative;">
<div class="logo inner_logo" style="left:20px !important">
<a title="Home" href="https://im4change.in/">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" class="logo_image" alt="im4change"/> </a>
</div>
<div class="langhindi" style="color: #000;display:none;"
href="https://im4change.in/">
<a class="more-link" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hindi/" class="langbutton ">हिन्दी</a>
</div>
<nav class="fade-in animated2" id="main-nav">
<div class="container">
<div class="main-menu">
<ul class="menu" id="menu-main">
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children"
style="left: -40px;"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item mega-menu menu-item-type-taxonomy mega-menu menu-item-object-category mega-menu menu-item-has-children parent-list"
style=" margin-left: -40px;"><a href="#">KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY <span class="sub-indicator"></span>
</a>
<div class="mega-menu-block background_menu" style="padding-top:25px;">
<div class="container">
<div class="mega-menu-content">
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Farm Crisis</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/farmers039-suicides-14.html"
class="left postionrel">Farm Suicides </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/unemployment-30.html"
class="left postionrel">Unemployment </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/rural-distress-70.html"
class="left postionrel">Rural distress </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/migration-34.html"
class="left postionrel">Migration </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/key-facts-72.html"
class="left postionrel">Key Facts </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/debt-trap-15.html"
class="left postionrel">Debt Trap </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Empowerment</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/union-budget-73.html"
class="left postionrel">Union Budget And Other Economic Policies </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/forest-and-tribal-rights-61.html"
class="left postionrel">Forest and Tribal Rights </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-education-60.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Education </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-food-59.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Food </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/displacement-3279.html"
class="left postionrel">Displacement </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-work-mg-nrega-39.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Work (MG-NREGA) </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/gender-3280.html"
class="left postionrel">GENDER </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-information-58.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Information </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/social-audit-48.html"
class="left postionrel">Social Audit </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Hunger / HDI</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/poverty-and-inequality-20499.html"
class="left postionrel">Poverty and inequality </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/malnutrition-41.html"
class="left postionrel">Malnutrition </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/public-health-51.html"
class="left postionrel">Public Health </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/education-50.html"
class="left postionrel">Education </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html"
class="left postionrel">Hunger Overview </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hdi-overview-45.html"
class="left postionrel">HDI Overview </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/pds-ration-food-security-42.html"
class="left postionrel">PDS/ Ration/ Food Security </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/sdgs-113.html"
class="left postionrel">SDGs </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/mid-day-meal-scheme-mdms-53.html"
class="left postionrel">Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Environment</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/time-bomb-ticking-52.html"
class="left postionrel">Time Bomb Ticking </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/water-and-sanitation-55.html"
class="left postionrel">Water and Sanitation </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/impact-on-agriculture-54.html"
class="left postionrel">Impact on Agriculture </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Law & Justice</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/social-justice-20500.html"
class="left postionrel">Social Justice </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/access-to-justice-47.html"
class="left postionrel">Access to Justice </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/human-rights-56.html"
class="left postionrel">Human Rights </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/corruption-35.html"
class="left postionrel">Corruption </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/general-insecurity-46.html"
class="left postionrel">General Insecurity </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/disaster-relief-49.html"
class="left postionrel">Disaster & Relief </a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page "><a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/nceus_reports.php">NCEUS reports</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children parent-list ">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About Us <span
class="sub-indicator"></span></a>
<ul class="sub-menu aboutmenu">
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html">Objectives</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/contactus.php">Contact
Us</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About
Us</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children ">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/fellowships.php" title="Fellowships">Fellowships</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php">Workshops</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/research.php">Research</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/links-64">Partners</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children"
id="menu-item-539"><a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hindi/"
class="langbutton langlinkfont17">हिन्दी</a></li>
</ul>
</div> </div>
<!-- <div style="float: right;">
<script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=18b4f2e0f11bed3dd"></script>
<div class="gcse-search"></div>
</div> -->
<div class="search-block" style=" margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 7px;">
<form method="get" id="searchform" name="searchform"
action="https://im4change.in/search"
onsubmit="return searchvalidate();">
<button class="search-button" type="submit" value="Search"></button>
<input type="text" id="s" name="qryStr" value=""
onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search...') {this.value = '';}"
onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search...';}">
</form>
</div>
</nav>
</header>
<div class="container">
<div id="main-content" class=" main1 container fade-in animated3 sidebar-narrow-left">
<div class="content-wrap">
<div class="content" style="width: 900px;min-height: 500px;">
<div class="background_inner innBack" align="center">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/backgrounders/hunger-overview-shambhu-gha.jpg"
alt="Hunger Overview"
class="box_shadow mt5"/>
</div>
<section class="cat-box recent-box innerCatRecent">
<h1 class="cat-box-title">Hunger Overview</h1>
<a href="JavaScript:void(0);" onclick="return shareArticle(12);">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/email.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/> </a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40/print"
rel="nofollow">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/icon-print.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>
</a>
</section>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 10px;">
<div class="innerLineHeight">
<div class="middleContent innerInput hunger-hdi">
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="rightSideContent" style="float: right; width: 300px; margin-left: 10px;">
<div class="box warning" style="padding: 12px;">
<div class="box-inner-block" style="padding-left: 0px;">
<div class="starlist">
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px;">What's Inside</h2>
<ul class="whatsinside">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=2#2022-global-hunger-index-food-systems-transformation-and-local-governance39-released-in-october-2022">2022 Global Hunger Index: Food Systems Transformation and Local Governance' (released in October 2022)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=3#2022-edition-of-the-state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world-sofi-report">2022 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#another-perfect-storm-released-in-may-2022">Another Perfect Storm? (released in May, 2022)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#2021-global-hunger-indexnbsp-hunger-and-food-systems-in-conflict-settings-released-in-october-2021">2021 Global Hunger Index -- Hunger and Food Systems in Conflict Settings (released in October, 2021)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#statement-of-ministry-of-women-and-child-development-on-global-hunger-report-2021-dated-15th-october-2021">Statement of Ministry of Women and Child Development on Global Hunger Report 2021 dated 15th October, 2021</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5#the-hunger-virus-multiplies-released-on-9th-july-2021">The Hunger Virus Multiplies (released on 9th July, 2021)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5#2020-global-hunger-index-one-decade-to-zero-hunger-linking-health-and-sustainable-food-systems-released-in-october-2020">2020 Global Hunger Index: One Decade to Zero Hunger -- Linking Health and Sustainable Food Systems (released in October, 2020)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=6#the-state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world-2020-transforming-food-systems-for-affordable-healthy-diets-released-in-july-2020">The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020: Transforming Food Systems for Affordable Healthy Diets (released in July 2020)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=7#2019-global-hunger-index-the-challenge-of-hunger-and-climate-change-released-in-october-2019">2019 Global Hunger Index: The Challenge of Hunger and Climate Change (released in October, 2019)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=8#2018-global-hunger-index-forced-migration-and-hunger">2018 Global Hunger Index: Forced Migration and Hunger</a>
</li>
</ul>
<div><a href="javascript:void(0)" id="morewhatsinsidelink" onClick="javascript:$('#morewhatsinside').show();$('#morewhatsinsidelink').hide();$('#lesswhatsinsidelink').show();">More</a></div>
<ul class="whatsinside" id="morewhatsinside" style="display:none">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=9#2017-global-hunger-index-the-inequalities-of-hunger-released-in-october-2017">2017 Global Hunger Index: The Inequalities of Hunger (released in October 2017)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=10#2016-global-hunger-index-getting-to-zero-hunger-released-in-october-2016">2016 Global Hunger Index: Getting to Zero Hunger (released in October 2016) </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=11#2015-global-hunger-index-armed-conflict-and-the-challenge-of-hunger-released-in-october-2015">2015 Global Hunger Index: Armed Conflict and the Challenge of Hunger (released in October 2015)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=12#state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2015-released-in-may-2015">State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015 (released in May 2015)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=13#global-hunger-index-2014">Global Hunger Index 2014</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=14#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2014">The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=15#global-hunger-index-2013">Global Hunger Index 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=16#food-wastage-footprints-impacts-on-natural-resources-2013">Food Wastage Footprints: Impacts on Natural Resources (2013)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=17#the-state-of-food-and-agriculture-2013">The State of Food and Agriculture 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=18#nss-66th-round-report-titled-perceived-adequacy-of-food-consumption-in-indian-households-july-2009-june-2010-span-stylefont-familyarialhelveticasans-serif-font-sizemediumpublished-in-february-2013span">NSS 66th Round Report titled: Perceived Adequacy of Food Consumption in Indian Households July 2009-June 2010 (published in February, 2013)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=19#summary-of-the-national-food-security-bill-2013">Summary of the National Food Security Bill 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=20#2013-hunger-report-within-reach-global-development-goals-2012">2013 Hunger Report-Within Reach Global Development Goals (2012)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=21#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2012">The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22#oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook-2012-2021">OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22#global-monitoring-report-2012-food-prices-nutrition-and-the-millennium-development-goals">Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=23#state-of-world-population-2011">State of World Population 2011</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24#food-sovereignty-reclaiming-the-global-food-system-2011">Food sovereignty: Reclaiming the global food system (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-how-does-international-price-volatility-affect-domestic-economies-and-food-security-2011">The State of Food Insecurity in the World: How does international price volatility affect domestic economies and food security? (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25#nourish-south-asia-grow-a-better-future-for-regional-food-justice">Nourish South Asia: Grow a better future for regional food justice</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#global-food-losses-and-food-waste-extent-causes-and-prevention-food-and-agriculture-organization-2011">Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, Causes and Prevention, Food and Agriculture Organization (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#2010-global-hunger-index">2010 Global Hunger Index</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2008">The State of Food Insecurity in the World-2008 </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#report-on-the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-rural-india-2009">Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Rural India (2009)</a>
</li>
</ul>
<div><a style="display:none" href="javascript:void(0)" id="lesswhatsinsidelink" onClick="javascript:$('#morewhatsinside').hide();$('#morewhatsinsidelink').show();$('#lesswhatsinsidelink').hide();">Less</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify">According to <a name="global-food-losses-and-food-waste-extent-causes-and-prevention-food-and-agriculture-organization-2011">Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, Causes and Prevention, Food and Agriculture Organization (2011)</a>,<br /><a href="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/GFL_web.pdf" title="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/GFL_web.pdf">http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/<br />GFL_web.pdf</a>: <br /><br />• Roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year.<br /><br />• Overall, on a per-capita basis, much more food is wasted in the industrialized world than in developing countries. It is estimated that the per capita food waste by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.<br /><br />• Food losses refer to the decrease in edible food mass throughout the part of the supply chain that specifically leads to edible food for human consumption. Food losses take place at production, postharvest and processing stages in the food supply chain. Food losses occurring at the end of the food chain (retail and final consumption) are rather called “food waste”, which relates to retailers’ and consumers’ behavior.<br /><br />• In low-income countries food is mainly lost during the early and middle stages of the food supply chain; much less food is wasted at the consumer level. Food losses in industrialized countries are as high as in developing countries, but in developing countries more than 40% of the food losses occur at post harvest and processing levels, while in industrialized countries, more than 40% of the food losses occur at retail and consumer levels. Food waste at consumer level in industrialized countries (222 million ton) is almost as high as the total net food production in sub-Saharan Africa (230 million ton).<br /><br />• The causes of food losses and waste in low-income countries are mainly connected to financial, managerial and technical limitations in harvesting techniques, storage and cooling facilities in difficult climatic conditions, infrastructure, packaging and marketing systems. Producing food that will not be consumed leads to unnecessary CO2 emissions in addition to loss of economic value of the food produced.<br /><br />• Food can be wasted due to quality standards, which reject food items not perfect in shape or appearance. At the consumer level, insufficient purchase planning and expiring ‘best-before-dates’ also cause large amounts of waste, in combination with the careless attitude of those consumers who can afford to waste food.<br /><br />• Per capita food loss in Europe and North-America is 280-300 kg/year. In Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia it is 120-170 kg/year. The total per capita production of edible parts of food for human consumption is, in Europe and North-America, about 900 kg/year and, in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia, 460 kg/year.<br /><br />• Per capita food wasted by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.<br /><br />• In the case of meat and meat products losses and waste in industrialized regions are most severe at the end of the food supply chain—FSC, explained by a high per capita meat consumption combined with large waste proportions by retailers and consumers, especially in Europe and the U.S. Waste at the consumption level makes up approximately half of total meat losses and waste.<br /> </p><div><p style="text-align:justify"><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to John, Mason, Hunt, Joseph, Parker, David and Jonsson, Urban (1999): Investing in Child Nutrition in Asia, Asian Development Review, Vol. 17, nos. 1,2, pp. 1-32, </span></em><br /><em><a href="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care." title="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care.">http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17<br />-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf</a></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• About half the preschool children in Asia are considered to be malnourished, ranging from 16 percent underweight in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to 64 percent in Bangladesh, and a similar percentage are deficient in one or more micronutrients.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify">• Poor diet and infectious disease interact to cause growth failure in children, physiological damage especially to the immune system, and specific clinical conditions like anemia, leading to impaired development and death.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Malnutrition is the largest risk factor in the world for disability and premature mortality, especially in developing countries, and is entirely preventable. Eliminating malnutrition would cut child mortality by more than 50 percent, and reduce the burden of disease in developing countries by about 20 percent</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Micronutrient deficiencies, measured by specific signs, are very widespread, in fact more so than general malnutrition, in part because the poor first meet energy needs, and the cheapest energy sources are the lowest in micronutrients. The three of most concern are vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency, usually assessed as anemia, and iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs).</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Anemia resulting from iron deficiency is highly prevalent and showing no signs of declining in Asia. More than half the women of reproductive age are anemic, and children are similarly affected</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to <a name="2010-global-hunger-index">2010 Global Hunger Index</a>, which has been brought out by International Food Policy research Institute (IFPRI), <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger-index-crisis-child-undernutrition" title="http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger-index-crisis-child-undernutrition">http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger<br />-index-crisis-child-undernutrition</a>: </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The 2010 Global Hunger Index (GHI) is calculated for 122 developing countries and countries in transition for which data on the three components of hunger are available.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The Index scores countries based on three equally weighted indicators: the proportion of people who are undernourished, the proportion of children under five who are underweight, and the child mortality rate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The Index ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst, although neither of these extremes is reached in practice.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• An increase in a country’s GHI score indicates that the hunger situation is worsening, while a decrease in the score indicates an improvement in the country’s hunger situation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• This year’s GHI reflects data from 2003-2008—the most recent available global data on the three components of hunger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Since 1990, the world’s GHI score has decreased by nearly 25 percent. However, global hunger remains at a “serious” level.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa continue to suffer from the highest levels of hunger, with regional scores of 22.9 and 21.7, respectively.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Vietnam made the most absolute progress in improving their scores between the 1990 GHI and 2010 GHI. In the same period, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Tunisia, and Turkey made the most relative progress in reducing hunger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Undernutrition signifies deficiencies in energy, protein, and/or essential vitamins and minerals. Undernutrition is the result of inadequate intake of food—in terms of either quality or quantity—or poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illnesses, or a combination of these two factors.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Bangladesh, India, and Timor-Leste have the highest prevalence of underweight children in Asia– 40 percent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>Bangladesh: </em>Over the past 25 years, Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing its under-five mortality rate, as well as the prevalence of underweight and stunted children. Despite these improvements, 54 out of every 1,000 children do not survive to their fifth birthday and a staggering 43 percent of Bangladeshi children are stunted, accounting for almost 4 percent of stunted children worldwide.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>China: </em>Between 1990 and 2002, China reduced child malnutrition from 25 percent to 8 percent with a highly successful poverty alleviation strategy; effective large-scale health, nutrition, and family-planning interventions; and increased spending on water, sanitation, and education.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>India: </em>Between 1990 and 2008, the prevalence of underweight children dropped from 60 percent to 44 percent, while the under-five mortality rate fell from 12 percent to 7 percent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• In 2005-06, about 44 percent of Indian children under age five were underweight and 48 percent were stunted. Because of the country’s large population, India is home to 42 percent of the world’s underweight children and 31 percent of its stunted children. </span></div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>Malaysia:</em> Between 1990 and 2005, the proportion of children who were underweight decreased from 22 percent to 7 percent. This impressive reduction can be attributed to rapid economic growth, as well as interventions targeted to women and young children.<br /><br />• <em>Thailand: </em>During the 1980s, Thailand halved malnutrition from 50 percent to 25 percent by using targeted nutrition interventions and creating a widespread network of community volunteers to help change people’s behavior.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"><em>According to The State of Food Insecurity in the World: Addressing food insecurity in protracted crises, which has been brought out by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme, <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf" title="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf">http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf</a>: </em><br /><br />• The number of undernourished people in the world remains unacceptably high at near the one billion mark despite an expected decline in 2010 for the first time since 1995. This decline is largely attributable to increased economic growth foreseen in 2010 – particularly in developing countries – and the fall in international food prices since 2008.<br /><br />• A total of 925 million people are still estimated to be undernourished in 2010, representing almost 16 percent of the population of developing countries. The fact that nearly a billion people remain hungry even after the recent food and financial crises have largely passed indicates a deeper structural problem that gravely threatens the ability to achieve internationally agreed goals on hunger reduction: the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and the 1996 World Food Summit goal.<br /><br />• In the 22 countries identified by this report as being in protracted crisis (or containing areas in protracted crisis), the most recent data show that more than 166 million people are undernourished, representing nearly 40 percent of the population of these countries and nearly 20 percent of all undernourished people in the world.<br /><br />• This unacceptably high degree of hunger results from many factors, including armed conflict and natural disasters, often in combination with weak governance or public administration, scarce resources, unsustainable livelihoods systems and breakdown of local institutions.<br /><br />• On average, the proportion of people who are undernourished is almost three times as high in countries in protracted crisis as in other developing countries (if countries in protracted crisis and China and India are excluded). There are approximately 166 million undernourished people in countries in protracted crisis – roughly 20 percent of the world’s undernourished people, or more than a third of the global total if China and India are excluded from the calculation.<br /><br />• A deeper analysis of the relationship between protracted crisis and food security outcomes shows that changes in income, government effectiveness, control of corruption and the number of years in crisis are significantly related to the proportion of the population who are undernourished. These factors, plus education, are also all significantly related to a country’s Global Hunger Index.<br /><br />• Based on the latest available data, the total number of undernourished people in the world is estimated to have reached 1 023 million in 2009 and is expected to decline by 9.6 percent to 925 million in 2010. Developing countries account for 98 percent of the world’s undernourished people and have a prevalence of undernourishment of 16 percent – down from 18 percent in 2009 but still well above the target set by the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1.<br /><br />• International cereal prices have declined in recent months and are below their recent peaks, reflecting ample global cereal supplies in 2009/10 and prospects for large crops in 2010, but food prices in most low-income food-deficit countries remain above the pre-crisis level of early 2008, negatively affecting access to food by vulnerable populations.<br /><br />• Vulnerable households deal with shocks by selling assets, which are very difficult to rebuild, by reducing food consumption in terms of quantity and variety and by cutting down on health and education expenditures – coping mechanisms that all have long-term negative effects on quality of life and livelihoods.<br /><br />• The majority of the world’s undernourished people live in developing countries. Two-thirds live in just seven countries (Bangladesh, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Pakistan) and over 40 percent live in China and India alone.<br /><br />• The region with most undernourished people continues to be Asia and the Pacific, but with a 12 percent decline from 658 million in 2009 to 578 million, this region also accounts for most of the global improvement expected in 2010.<br /><br />• Developing countries as a group have seen an overall setback in terms of the World Food Summit goal (from 827 million in 1990–92 to 906 million in 2010), while some progress has been made towards MDG 1 (with the prevalence of hunger declining from 20 percent undernourished in 1990–92 to 16 percent in 2010).<br /><br />• The proportion of undernourished people remains highest in sub-Saharan Africa, at 30 percent in 2010. As of 2005–07 (the most recent period for which complete data are available), the Congo, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria had already achieved MDG 1 and Ethiopia and others were close to achieving it; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, the proportion of undernourishment had risen to 69 percent (from 26 percent in 1990–92).<br /><br />• In Asia, Armenia, Myanmar and Viet Nam had achieved MDG 1 and China and others were close to doing so, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica and Nicaragua had achieved MDG 1 and Brazil and others were approaching the target reduction.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to the FAO Report-<a name="the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2008">The State of Food Insecurity in the World-2008 </a> </span><a href="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care." title="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care.">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf</a>: </p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em><strong>World hunger is increasing: </strong></em>The World Food Summit (WFS) goal of halving the number of undernourished people in the world by 2015 is becoming more difficult to reach for many countries. FAO’s most recent estimates put the number of hungry people at 923 million in 2007, an increase of more than 80 million since the 1990–92 base period.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify">• <em><strong>High food prices share much of the blame: </strong></em>The most rapid increase in chronic hunger experienced in recent years occurred between 2003–05 and 2007. FAO’s provisional estimates show that, in 2007, 75 million more people were added to the total number of undernourished relative to 2003–05. While several factors are responsible, high food prices are driving millions of people into food insecurity, worsening conditions for many who were already food-insecure, and threatening long-term global food security.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• <em><strong>The poorest, landless and female-headed households are the hardest hit: </strong></em>The vast majority of urban and rural households in the developing world rely on food purchases for most of their food and stand to lose from high food prices. High food prices reduce real income and worsen the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition among the poor by reducing the quantity and quality of food consumed.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Initial governmental policy responses have had limited effect: To contain the negative effects of high food prices, governments have introduced various measures, such as price controls and export restrictions. While understandable from an immediate social welfare perspective, many of these actions have been ad hoc and are likely to be ineffective and unsustainable. Some have had damaging effects on world price levels and stability.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• By virtue of their size, China and India combined account for 42 percent of the chronically hungry people in thedeveloping world. The importance of China and India in the overall picture warrants some analysis of the main driving forces behind hunger trends</p><p style="text-align:justify">• After registering impressive gains between 1990–92 and the mid-1990s, progress in reducing hunger in India has stalled since about 1995–97. The high proportion of undernourished in India in the base had a challenging task in reducing the number of undernourished</p><p style="text-align:justify">• The increase in the number of undernourished in India can be traced to a slowing in the growth (even a slight decline) in per capita dietary energy supply for human consumption since 1995–97. On the demand side, life expectancy in India has increased from 59 to 63 years since 1990–92. This has had an important impact on the overall change in population structure, with the result that in 2003–05 the growth in minimum dietary energy requirements had outpaced that of dietary energy supply</p><p style="text-align:justify">• The combination of the declining per capita growth rate in total dietary energy supply and higher per capita dietary energy requirements resulted in an estimated 24 million more undernourished people in India in 2003–05 compared with the base period. The increased food needs of the ageing population amount to about 6.5 million tonnes per year in cereal equivalent. Nevertheless, the prevalence of hunger in India decreased from 24 percent in 1990–92 to 21 percent in 2003–05, marking progress towards meeting the MDG hunger reduction target.</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p></div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to the <a name="report-on-the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-rural-india-2009">Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Rural India (2009)</a>, which has been prepared by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the World Food Programme (WFP),</span><br /><a href="http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:" title="http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:">http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsr<br />oom/wfp197348.pdf:</a></p><p style="text-align:justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• On the composite index of food insecurity of rural India, states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are found in the ‘very high’ level of food insecurity, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. The indicators used for computing the index of food insecurity in rural India are: a) Percentage of population consuming less than 1,890 Kcal /cu/diem; b) Percentage of households not having access to safe drinking water; c) Percentage of households not having access to toilets within the premises; d) Percentage of ever-married women age 15 – 49 years who are anaemic; e) Percentage of women (15 – 49 yrs) with CED; f) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are anaemic; and, g) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are stunted</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The better performers include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, all of which report an Index value below 0.5</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The proportion of population consuming less than 1890 kcal/cu/diem has in fact increased in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Rajasthan and marginally for Punjab.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Almost 2/3rd of rural households in Jharkhand did not have access to safe drinking water in 2001.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• More than 90 percent of rural households in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh did not have access to toilets within their premises.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• As many as eight states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – have shown increase in the incidence of anaemia among women in the reproductive age group. The highest increase in anaemia levels has been observed in Andhra Pradesh (51 to 64 percent), followed by Haryana (48 to 57 percent) and Kerala (23 to 32 percent).</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The proportion of women with CED has drastically increased for Assam (28 to 40 percent) followed by Bihar (40 to 46 percent), Madhya Pradesh (42 to 45 percent) and Haryana (31 to 33 percent).</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p> <br>
<div align="center" class="pagination">
<span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25" class="articlepagination">« previous</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=1" class="articlepagination">1</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=2" class="articlepagination">2</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=3" class="articlepagination">3</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4" class="articlepagination">4</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5" class="articlepagination">5</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=6" class="articlepagination">6</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=7" class="articlepagination">7</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=8" class="articlepagination">8</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=9" class="articlepagination">9</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=10" class="articlepagination">10</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=11" class="articlepagination">11</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=12" class="articlepagination">12</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=13" class="articlepagination">13</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=14" class="articlepagination">14</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=15" class="articlepagination">15</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=16" class="articlepagination">16</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=17" class="articlepagination">17</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=18" class="articlepagination">18</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=19" class="articlepagination">19</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=20" class="articlepagination">20</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=21" class="articlepagination">21</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22" class="articlepagination">22</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=23" class="articlepagination">23</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24" class="articlepagination">24</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25" class="articlepagination">25</a></span><span class="current">26</span><span class="disabled ">next »</span> </div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<br><a href='/experts.php' class='re'>Rural Expert</a><div class="clear"></div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div class="comment-respond" id="respond">
<a name="commentbox"> </a>
<h3 class="comment-reply-title" id="reply-title">Write Comments</h3>
<form method="post" accept-charset="utf-8" role="form" action="/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"><div style="display:none;"><input type="hidden" name="_method" value="POST"/></div> <form class="comment-form" id="commentform" method="post" action="#commentbox" onSubmit="return validate()"
name="cmtform">
<input type="hidden" name="cmttype" value="articlecmt"/>
<input type="hidden" name="article_id" value="12"/>
<p class="comment-notes">Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked <span
class="required">*</span></p>
<p class="comment-form-author">
<label for="commenterName">Name</label>
<span class="required">*</span>
<input type="text" aria-required="true" size="30"
value=""
name="commenterName" id="commenterName" required="true">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-email">
<label for="commenterEmail">Email</label> <span class="required">*</span>
<input aria-required="true" size="30" name="commenterEmail" id="commenterEmail" type="email"
value=""
required="true">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-contact">
<label for="commenterPh">Contact No.</label>
<input type="text" size="30"
value=""
name="commenterPh" id="commenterPh">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-comment">
<label for="comment">Comment</label>
<textarea aria-required="true" required="true" rows="8" cols="45" name="comment"
id="comment"></textarea>
</p>
<p class="comment-form-comment">
<label for="comment">Type the characters you see in the image below <span class="required">*</span><br><img
class="captchaImg"
src="https://im4change.in/securimage_show_art.php?tk=815708671" alt="captcha"/>
</label>
</p>
<input type="text" name="vrcode" required="true"/>
<p class="form-submit" style="width: 200px;">
<input type="submit" value="Post Comment" id="submit" name="submit">
</p></form>
</div>
<style>
.ui-widget-content {
height: auto !important;
}
</style>
<div id="share-modal"></div>
<style>
.middleContent a{
background-color: rgba(108,172,228,.2);
}
.middleContent a:hover{
background-color: #418fde;
border-color: #418fde;
color: #000;
}
</style>
<script>
function shareArticle(article_id) {
var options = {
modal: true,
height: 'auto',
width: 600 + 'px'
};
$('#share-modal').html("");
$('#share-modal').load('https://im4change.in/share_article?article_id=' + article_id).dialog(options).dialog('open');
}
function postShare() {
var param = 'article_id=' + $("#article_id").val();
param = param + '&y_name=' + $("#y_name").val();
param = param + '&y_email=' + $("#y_email").val();
param = param + '&f_name=' + $("#f_name").val();
param = param + '&f_email=' + $("#f_email").val();
param = param + '&y_msg=' + $("#y_msg").val();
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: 'https://im4change.in/post_share_article',
data: param,
success: function (response) {
$('#share-modal').html("Thank You, Your message posted to ");
}
});
return false;
}
</script> </div>
</div>
<!-- Right Side Section Start -->
<!-- MAP Section START -->
<aside class="sidebar indexMarg">
<div class="ad-cell">
<a href="https://im4change.in/statemap.php" title="">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/map_new_version.png?1582080666" alt="India State Map" class="indiamap" width="232" height="252"/> </a>
<div class="rightmapbox">
<div id="sideOne" class="docltitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/state-report/india/36" target="_blank">DOCUMENTS/
REPORTS</a></div>
<div id="sideTwo" class="statetitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/states.php"target="_blank">STATE DATA/
HDRs.</a></div>
</div>
<div class="widget widgePadTop"></div>
</div>
</aside>
<!-- MAP Section END -->
<aside class="sidebar sidePadbottom">
<div class="rightsmlbox1" >
<a href="https://im4change.in/knowledge_gateway" target="_blank" style="color: #035588;
font-size: 17px;">
KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY
</a>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
<a href="https://im4change.in/newsletter" target="_blank">
NEWSLETTER
</a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 325px;">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava
</p>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/interview-with-prof-ravi-srivastava-on-current-economic-crisis">
<img width="250" height="200" src="/images/interview_video_home.jpg" alt="Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava"/>
</a>
<!--
<iframe width="250" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmaTlntk-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>-->
</p>
<a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery" class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More videos
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<!--div id="sstory" class="rightboxicons"></div--->
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://im4change.in/list-success-stories" target="_blank">Success Stories</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
href="https://im4change.in/interviews" target="_blank">Interviews</a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://www.commoncause.in/page.php?id=10" >Donate</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
href="https://im4change.in/marquee"
class="isf_link more-link" title="India Focus?" style="border: 4px solid #fdd922;width: 90%;background-color: #fdd922;text-align: center;color: #000000;font-size:18px" target="_blank">India Focus</a></p> </div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 104px !important;">
<a href="https://im4change.in/quarterly_reports.php" target="_blank">
Quarterly Reports on Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India (2008 - 2015)
</a>
</div>
<!-- <div class="rightsmlbox1">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.im4.im4change" target="_blank">
</a></div> -->
<!-- <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
<h2 class="cat-box-title">Most Visited</h2>
</section> -->
<!-- accordion Starts here -->
<!-- <div id="accordion" class="accordMarg">
</div> -->
<!-- accordion ends here -->
<!-- Widget Tag Cloud Starts here -->
<div id="tag_cloud-2" class="widget widget_tag_cloud">
<section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
<h2 class="cat-box-title">MOST VISITED TAGS</h2>
</section>
<div class="widget-top wiPdTp">
<div class="stripe-line"></div>
</div>
<div class="widget-container">
<div class="tagcloud">
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Agriculture"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Agriculture</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Food Security"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Food Security</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Law and Justice"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Law and Justice</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Health"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Health</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Food"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Food</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Corruption"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Corruption</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=farming"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">farming</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Environment"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Environment</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Information"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Information</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=NREGS"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">NREGS</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Human Rights"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Human Rights</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Governance"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Governance</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PDS"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PDS</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=COVID-19"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">COVID-19</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Land Acquisition"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Land Acquisition</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=mgnrega"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">mgnrega</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farmers"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farmers</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=transparency"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">transparency</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Gender"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Gender</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Poverty"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Poverty</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farm Laws" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farm Laws
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Citizenship Amendment Act" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Citizenship Amendment Act
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=CAA NPR NRIC" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">CAA NPR NRIC
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Job Losses" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Job Losses
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Migrant Workers" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Migrant Workers
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Unemployment" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Unemployment
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PMGKAY" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PMGKAY
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-KISAN" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-KISAN
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-CARES" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-CARES
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=LFPR" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">LFPR
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Widget Tag Cloud Ends here -->
</aside>
<!-- Right Side Section End -->
</div>
<section class="cat-box cats-review-box footerSec">
<h2 class="cat-box-title vSec CatArcha">Video
Archives</h2>
<h2 class="cat-box-title CatArchaTitle">Archives</h2>
<div class="cat-box-content">
<div class="reviews-cat">
<div class="CatArchaDiv1">
<div class="CatArchaDiv2">
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/moving-upstream-luni-fellowship.html" target="_blank">
Moving Upstream: Luni – Fellowship </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/135-million-indians-exited-multidimensional-poverty-as-per-government-figures-is-that-the-same-as-poverty-reduction.html" target="_blank">
135 Million Indians Exited “Multidimensional" Poverty as per Government... </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/explainer-why-are-tomato-prices-on-fire.html" target="_blank">
Explainer: Why are Tomato Prices on Fire? </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/nsso-survey-only-39-1-of-all-households-have-drinking-water-within-dwelling-46-7-of-rural-households-use-firewood-for-cooking.html" target="_blank">
NSSO Survey: Only 39.1% of all Households have Drinking... </a>
</li>
<li class="CatArchalLi1">
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57"
class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More...
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/I51LYnP8BOk/1.jpg"
alt=" Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Short-Video-on-im4change-Hindi-website-Inclusive-Media-for-Change" target="_blank">
Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/kNqha-SwfIY/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-1- Scope-of-IDEA-and-AgriStack-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/6kIVjlgZItk/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-2-Farmer-Centric-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2BeHTu0y7xc/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-3-Future-of-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="divWidth">
<ul class="divWidthMarg">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Public-Spending-on-Agriculture-in-India-Source-Foundation-for-Agrarian-Studies"
title="Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for Agrarian Studies)" target="_blank">
Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Agrarian-Change-Seminar-Protests-against-the-New-Farm-Laws-in-India-by-Prof-Vikas-Rawal-JNU-Source-Journal-Of-Agrarian-Change"
title="Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws in India' by Prof. Vikas Rawal, JNU (Source: Journal Of Agrarian Change) " target="_blank">
Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Webinar-Ramrao-The-Story-of-India-Farm-Crisis-Source-Azim-Premji-University"
title="Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis (Source: Azim Premji University)" target="_blank">
Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/water-and-agricultural-transformation-in-India"
title="Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship (Source: IGIDR)" target="_blank">
Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship...</a>
</li>
<li class="CatArchalLi1">
<a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery"
class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More...
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section> </div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<!-- Footer option Starts here -->
<div class="footer-bottom fade-in animated4">
<div class="container">
<div class="social-icons icon_flat">
<p class="SocialMargTop"> Website Developed by <a target="_blank" title="Web Development"
class="wot right"
href="http://www.ravinderkhurana.com/" rel="nofollow">
RAVINDErkHURANA.com</a></p>
</div>
<div class="alignleft">
<a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html"
class="link"
title="Objectives">Objectives</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html"
class="link" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php"
class="ucwords">Workshops</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/disclaimer/disclaimer-149.html"
title="Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Footer option ends here -->
</div>
<div id="connect">
<a target="_blank"
href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"
title="Share on Facebook">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/Facebook.png?1582080640" alt="share on Facebook" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a><br/>
<a target="_blank"
href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Im4change&url=https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"
title="Share on Twitter">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/twitter.png?1582080632" alt="Twitter" class="ImgBorder"/> </a>
<br/>
<a href="/feeds" title="RSS Feed" target="_blank">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/rss.png?1582080632" alt="RSS" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a>
<br/>
<a class="feedback-link" id="feedbackFormLink" href="#">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/feedback.png?1582080630" alt="Feedback" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a> <br/>
<a href="javascript:function iprl5(){var d=document,z=d.createElement('scr'+'ipt'),b=d.body,l=d.location;try{if(!b)throw(0);d.title='(Saving...) '+d.title;z.setAttribute('src',l.protocol+'//www.instapaper.com/j/WKrH3R7ORD5p?u='+encodeURIComponent(l.href)+'&t='+(new Date().getTime()));b.appendChild(z);}catch(e){alert('Please wait until the page has loaded.');}}iprl5();void(0)"
class="bookmarklet" onclick="return explain_bookmarklet();">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/read-it-later.png?1582080632" alt="Read Later" class="ImgBorder"/> </a>
</div>
<!-- Feedback form Starts here -->
<div id="feedbackForm" class="overlay_form" class="ImgBorder">
<h2>Contact Form</h2>
<div id="contactform1">
<div id="formleft">
<form id="submitform" action="/contactus.php" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="submitform" value="submitform"/>
<input type="hidden" name="salt_key" value="a0e0f2c6a0644a70e57ad2c96829709a"/>
<input type="hidden" name="ref" value="feedback"/>
<fieldset>
<label>Name :</label>
<input type="text" name="name" class="tbox" required/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<label>Email :</label>
<input type="text" name="email" class="tbox" required/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<label>Message :</label>
<textarea rows="5" cols="20" name="message" required></textarea>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
Please enter security code
<div class="clear"></div>
<input type="text" name="vrcode" class="tbox"/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<input type="submit" class="button" value="Submit"/>
<a href="#" id="closefeedbakcformLink">Close</a>
</fieldset>
</form>
</div>
<div class="clearfix"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="donate_popup" class="modal" style="max-width: 800px;">
<table width="100%" border="1">
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<b>Support im4change</b>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%" valign="middle">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" alt="" width="100%"/> </td>
<td style="padding-left:10px;padding-top:10px;">
<form action="https://im4change.in/donate" method="get">
<table width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
<tr>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
10
</td>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
100
</td>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
1000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
50
</td>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
500
</td>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
<input type="text" name="price" placeholder="?" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="right">
<input type="button" name="Pay" value="Pay"
style="width: 200px;background-color: rgb(205, 35, 36);color: #ffffff;"/>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div><script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var tievar = {'go_to': 'Go to...'};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script src="/js/tie-scripts.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/bootstrap.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/jquery.modal.min.js?1578284310"></script><script>
$(document).ready(function() {
// tell the autocomplete function to get its data from our php script
$('#s').autocomplete({
source: "/autocomplete"
});
});
</script>
<script src="/vj-main-sw-register.js" async></script>
<script>function init(){var imgDefer=document.getElementsByTagName('img');for(var i=0;i<imgDefer.length;i++){if(imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src')){imgDefer[i].setAttribute('src',imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src'))}}}
window.onload=init;</script>
</body>
</html>'
}
$reasonPhrase = 'OK'
header - [internal], line ??
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emitStatusLine() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emit() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 54
Cake\Http\Server::emit() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 141
[main] - ROOT/webroot/index.php, line 39
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
$response = object(Cake\Http\Response) {
'status' => (int) 200,
'contentType' => 'text/html',
'headers' => [
'Content-Type' => [
[maximum depth reached]
]
],
'file' => null,
'fileRange' => [],
'cookies' => object(Cake\Http\Cookie\CookieCollection) {},
'cacheDirectives' => [],
'body' => '<!DOCTYPE html>
<!--[if lt IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie6" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7 ]>
<html class="ie ie7" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8 ]>
<html class="ie ie8" lang='en'> <![endif]-->
<!--[if (gte IE 9)|!(IE)]><!-->
<html lang='en'>
<!--<![endif]-->
<head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<title>
Hunger / HDI | Hunger Overview </title>
<meta name="description" content="
KEY TRENDS
• As per the 2019 Global Hunger Index report, neighbouring countries such as China (GHI score: 6.5; GHI rank: 25), Sri Lanka (GHI score: 17.1; GHI rank: 66), Myanmar (GHI score: 19.8; GHI rank: 69), Nepal (GHI score: 20.8; GHI rank: 73), Bangladesh (GHI score:..."/>
<meta name="keywords" content="im4change, corruption, food security, Right To Education, malnutrition, Hunger, Health, MNREGA"/>
<meta name="news_keywords" content="im4change, corruption, food security, Right To Education, malnutrition, Hunger, Health, MNREGA">
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ROR" href="/ror.xml"/>
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="RSS 2.0" href="/feeds/"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/bootstrap.min.css?1697864993"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style.css?v=1.1.2"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/style-inner.css?1577045210"/> <link rel="stylesheet" id="Oswald-css"
href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Oswald%3Aregular%2C700&ver=3.8.1" type="text/css"
media="all">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery.modal.min.css?1578285302"/> <script src="/js/jquery-1.10.2.js?1575549704"></script> <script src="/js/jquery-migrate.min.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico" title="Favicon">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/jquery-ui.css?1580720609"/> <script src="/js/jquery-ui.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/custom.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery.modal.min.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/jquery-ui.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/li-scroller.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<!-- <link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous"> -->
<link rel="preload" as="style" href="https://www.im4change.org/css/style-inner.css" onload="this.rel='stylesheet'" media="all" crossorigin="anonymous">
<link rel='dns-prefetch' href="//im4change.org/css/custom.css" crossorigin >
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/bootstrap.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.li-scroller.1.0.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.modal.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery.ui.totop.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-1.10.2.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-migrate.min.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/jquery-ui.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/setting.js">
<link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.im4change.org/js/tie-scripts.js">
<!--[if IE]>
<script type="text/javascript">jQuery(document).ready(function () {
jQuery(".menu-item").has("ul").children("a").attr("aria-haspopup", "true");
});</script>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="/js/html5.js"></script>
<script src="/js/selectivizr-min.js"></script>
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8]>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="/css/ie8.css"/>
<![endif]-->
<meta property="og:title" content="Hunger / HDI | Hunger Overview" />
<meta property="og:url" content="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26" />
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
<meta property="og:description" content="
KEY TRENDS
• As per the 2019 Global Hunger Index report, neighbouring countries such as China (GHI score: 6.5; GHI rank: 25), Sri Lanka (GHI score: 17.1; GHI rank: 66), Myanmar (GHI score: 19.8; GHI rank: 69), Nepal (GHI score: 20.8; GHI rank: 73), Bangladesh (GHI score:..." />
<meta property="og:image" content="" />
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="0" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, maximum-scale=1, user-scalable=no">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple1.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="120x120" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple2.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple3.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://im4change.in/images/apple4.png">
<style>
.gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
top: 38% !important;
height: 50% !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
border-color: #035588 !important;
background-color: #035588 !important;
}
.gsib_a{
height: 30px !important;
padding: 2px 8px 1px 6px !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
height: 41px !important;
}
input.gsc-input{
background: none !important;
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {
.gsc-results-wrapper-overlay{
top: 11% !important;
width: 87% !important;
left: 9% !important;
height: 43% !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2{
padding: 10px 10px !important;
}
.gsc-input-box{
height: 28px !important;
}
/* .gsib_a {
padding: 0px 9px 4px 9px !important;
}*/
}
@media only screen and (min-width: 1200px) and (max-width: 1920px) {
table.gsc-search-box{
width: 15% !important;
float: right !important;
margin-top: -118px !important;
}
.gsc-search-button-v2 {
padding: 6px !important;
}
}
</style>
<script>
$(function () {
$("#accordion").accordion({
event: "click hoverintent"
});
});
/*
* hoverIntent | Copyright 2011 Brian Cherne
* http://cherne.net/brian/resources/jquery.hoverIntent.html
* modified by the jQuery UI team
*/
$.event.special.hoverintent = {
setup: function () {
$(this).bind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
},
teardown: function () {
$(this).unbind("mouseover", jQuery.event.special.hoverintent.handler);
},
handler: function (event) {
var currentX, currentY, timeout,
args = arguments,
target = $(event.target),
previousX = event.pageX,
previousY = event.pageY;
function track(event) {
currentX = event.pageX;
currentY = event.pageY;
}
;
function clear() {
target
.unbind("mousemove", track)
.unbind("mouseout", clear);
clearTimeout(timeout);
}
function handler() {
var prop,
orig = event;
if ((Math.abs(previousX - currentX) +
Math.abs(previousY - currentY)) < 7) {
clear();
event = $.Event("hoverintent");
for (prop in orig) {
if (!(prop in event)) {
event[prop] = orig[prop];
}
}
// Prevent accessing the original event since the new event
// is fired asynchronously and the old event is no longer
// usable (#6028)
delete event.originalEvent;
target.trigger(event);
} else {
previousX = currentX;
previousY = currentY;
timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
}
}
timeout = setTimeout(handler, 100);
target.bind({
mousemove: track,
mouseout: clear
});
}
};
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-472075-3']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function () {
var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
</script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="/css/custom.css?v=1.16"/> <script src="/js/jquery.ui.totop.js?1575549704"></script> <script src="/js/setting.js?1575549704"></script> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json">
<meta name="theme-color" content="#616163" />
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes">
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black">
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="im4change">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/icons/logo-192x192.png">
</head>
<body id="top" class="home inner blog">
<div class="background-cover"></div>
<div class="wrapper animated">
<header id="theme-header" class="header_inner" style="position: relative;">
<div class="logo inner_logo" style="left:20px !important">
<a title="Home" href="https://im4change.in/">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" class="logo_image" alt="im4change"/> </a>
</div>
<div class="langhindi" style="color: #000;display:none;"
href="https://im4change.in/">
<a class="more-link" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hindi/" class="langbutton ">हिन्दी</a>
</div>
<nav class="fade-in animated2" id="main-nav">
<div class="container">
<div class="main-menu">
<ul class="menu" id="menu-main">
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children"
style="left: -40px;"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/">Home</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item mega-menu menu-item-type-taxonomy mega-menu menu-item-object-category mega-menu menu-item-has-children parent-list"
style=" margin-left: -40px;"><a href="#">KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY <span class="sub-indicator"></span>
</a>
<div class="mega-menu-block background_menu" style="padding-top:25px;">
<div class="container">
<div class="mega-menu-content">
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Farm Crisis</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/farmers039-suicides-14.html"
class="left postionrel">Farm Suicides </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/unemployment-30.html"
class="left postionrel">Unemployment </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/rural-distress-70.html"
class="left postionrel">Rural distress </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/migration-34.html"
class="left postionrel">Migration </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/key-facts-72.html"
class="left postionrel">Key Facts </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/farm-crisis/debt-trap-15.html"
class="left postionrel">Debt Trap </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Empowerment</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/union-budget-73.html"
class="left postionrel">Union Budget And Other Economic Policies </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/forest-and-tribal-rights-61.html"
class="left postionrel">Forest and Tribal Rights </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-education-60.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Education </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-food-59.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Food </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/displacement-3279.html"
class="left postionrel">Displacement </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-work-mg-nrega-39.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Work (MG-NREGA) </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/gender-3280.html"
class="left postionrel">GENDER </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/right-to-information-58.html"
class="left postionrel">Right to Information </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/empowerment/social-audit-48.html"
class="left postionrel">Social Audit </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Hunger / HDI</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/poverty-and-inequality-20499.html"
class="left postionrel">Poverty and inequality </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/malnutrition-41.html"
class="left postionrel">Malnutrition </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/public-health-51.html"
class="left postionrel">Public Health </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/education-50.html"
class="left postionrel">Education </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html"
class="left postionrel">Hunger Overview </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hdi-overview-45.html"
class="left postionrel">HDI Overview </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/pds-ration-food-security-42.html"
class="left postionrel">PDS/ Ration/ Food Security </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/sdgs-113.html"
class="left postionrel">SDGs </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/mid-day-meal-scheme-mdms-53.html"
class="left postionrel">Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Environment</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/time-bomb-ticking-52.html"
class="left postionrel">Time Bomb Ticking </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/water-and-sanitation-55.html"
class="left postionrel">Water and Sanitation </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/environment/impact-on-agriculture-54.html"
class="left postionrel">Impact on Agriculture </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="mega-menu-item">
<h3><b>Law & Justice</b></h3>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/social-justice-20500.html"
class="left postionrel">Social Justice </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/access-to-justice-47.html"
class="left postionrel">Access to Justice </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/human-rights-56.html"
class="left postionrel">Human Rights </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/corruption-35.html"
class="left postionrel">Corruption </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/general-insecurity-46.html"
class="left postionrel">General Insecurity </a>
</p>
<p style="padding-left:5px;">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/law-justice/disaster-relief-49.html"
class="left postionrel">Disaster & Relief </a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page "><a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/nceus_reports.php">NCEUS reports</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children parent-list ">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About Us <span
class="sub-indicator"></span></a>
<ul class="sub-menu aboutmenu">
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html">Objectives</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/contactus.php">Contact
Us</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page"><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html">About
Us</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children ">
<a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/fellowships.php" title="Fellowships">Fellowships</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php">Workshops</a>
</li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/research.php">Research</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children "><a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/links-64">Partners</a></li>
<li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children"
id="menu-item-539"><a target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/hindi/"
class="langbutton langlinkfont17">हिन्दी</a></li>
</ul>
</div> </div>
<!-- <div style="float: right;">
<script async src="https://cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=18b4f2e0f11bed3dd"></script>
<div class="gcse-search"></div>
</div> -->
<div class="search-block" style=" margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 7px;">
<form method="get" id="searchform" name="searchform"
action="https://im4change.in/search"
onsubmit="return searchvalidate();">
<button class="search-button" type="submit" value="Search"></button>
<input type="text" id="s" name="qryStr" value=""
onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search...') {this.value = '';}"
onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search...';}">
</form>
</div>
</nav>
</header>
<div class="container">
<div id="main-content" class=" main1 container fade-in animated3 sidebar-narrow-left">
<div class="content-wrap">
<div class="content" style="width: 900px;min-height: 500px;">
<div class="background_inner innBack" align="center">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/backgrounders/hunger-overview-shambhu-gha.jpg"
alt="Hunger Overview"
class="box_shadow mt5"/>
</div>
<section class="cat-box recent-box innerCatRecent">
<h1 class="cat-box-title">Hunger Overview</h1>
<a href="JavaScript:void(0);" onclick="return shareArticle(12);">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/email.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/> </a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40/print"
rel="nofollow">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/icon-print.png?1582080630" border="0" width="24" align="right" alt="Share this article"/>
</a>
</section>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div style="padding-top: 10px;">
<div class="innerLineHeight">
<div class="middleContent innerInput hunger-hdi">
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<div class="rightSideContent" style="float: right; width: 300px; margin-left: 10px;">
<div class="box warning" style="padding: 12px;">
<div class="box-inner-block" style="padding-left: 0px;">
<div class="starlist">
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px;">What's Inside</h2>
<ul class="whatsinside">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=2#2022-global-hunger-index-food-systems-transformation-and-local-governance39-released-in-october-2022">2022 Global Hunger Index: Food Systems Transformation and Local Governance' (released in October 2022)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=3#2022-edition-of-the-state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world-sofi-report">2022 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#another-perfect-storm-released-in-may-2022">Another Perfect Storm? (released in May, 2022)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#2021-global-hunger-indexnbsp-hunger-and-food-systems-in-conflict-settings-released-in-october-2021">2021 Global Hunger Index -- Hunger and Food Systems in Conflict Settings (released in October, 2021)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4#statement-of-ministry-of-women-and-child-development-on-global-hunger-report-2021-dated-15th-october-2021">Statement of Ministry of Women and Child Development on Global Hunger Report 2021 dated 15th October, 2021</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5#the-hunger-virus-multiplies-released-on-9th-july-2021">The Hunger Virus Multiplies (released on 9th July, 2021)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5#2020-global-hunger-index-one-decade-to-zero-hunger-linking-health-and-sustainable-food-systems-released-in-october-2020">2020 Global Hunger Index: One Decade to Zero Hunger -- Linking Health and Sustainable Food Systems (released in October, 2020)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=6#the-state-of-food-security-and-nutrition-in-the-world-2020-transforming-food-systems-for-affordable-healthy-diets-released-in-july-2020">The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020: Transforming Food Systems for Affordable Healthy Diets (released in July 2020)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=7#2019-global-hunger-index-the-challenge-of-hunger-and-climate-change-released-in-october-2019">2019 Global Hunger Index: The Challenge of Hunger and Climate Change (released in October, 2019)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=8#2018-global-hunger-index-forced-migration-and-hunger">2018 Global Hunger Index: Forced Migration and Hunger</a>
</li>
</ul>
<div><a href="javascript:void(0)" id="morewhatsinsidelink" onClick="javascript:$('#morewhatsinside').show();$('#morewhatsinsidelink').hide();$('#lesswhatsinsidelink').show();">More</a></div>
<ul class="whatsinside" id="morewhatsinside" style="display:none">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=9#2017-global-hunger-index-the-inequalities-of-hunger-released-in-october-2017">2017 Global Hunger Index: The Inequalities of Hunger (released in October 2017)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=10#2016-global-hunger-index-getting-to-zero-hunger-released-in-october-2016">2016 Global Hunger Index: Getting to Zero Hunger (released in October 2016) </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=11#2015-global-hunger-index-armed-conflict-and-the-challenge-of-hunger-released-in-october-2015">2015 Global Hunger Index: Armed Conflict and the Challenge of Hunger (released in October 2015)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=12#state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2015-released-in-may-2015">State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015 (released in May 2015)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=13#global-hunger-index-2014">Global Hunger Index 2014</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=14#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2014">The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=15#global-hunger-index-2013">Global Hunger Index 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=16#food-wastage-footprints-impacts-on-natural-resources-2013">Food Wastage Footprints: Impacts on Natural Resources (2013)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=17#the-state-of-food-and-agriculture-2013">The State of Food and Agriculture 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=18#nss-66th-round-report-titled-perceived-adequacy-of-food-consumption-in-indian-households-july-2009-june-2010-span-stylefont-familyarialhelveticasans-serif-font-sizemediumpublished-in-february-2013span">NSS 66th Round Report titled: Perceived Adequacy of Food Consumption in Indian Households July 2009-June 2010 (published in February, 2013)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=19#summary-of-the-national-food-security-bill-2013">Summary of the National Food Security Bill 2013</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=20#2013-hunger-report-within-reach-global-development-goals-2012">2013 Hunger Report-Within Reach Global Development Goals (2012)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=21#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2012">The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22#oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook-2012-2021">OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2012-2021</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22#global-monitoring-report-2012-food-prices-nutrition-and-the-millennium-development-goals">Global Monitoring Report 2012: Food Prices, Nutrition, and the Millennium Development Goals</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=23#state-of-world-population-2011">State of World Population 2011</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24#food-sovereignty-reclaiming-the-global-food-system-2011">Food sovereignty: Reclaiming the global food system (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-how-does-international-price-volatility-affect-domestic-economies-and-food-security-2011">The State of Food Insecurity in the World: How does international price volatility affect domestic economies and food security? (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25#nourish-south-asia-grow-a-better-future-for-regional-food-justice">Nourish South Asia: Grow a better future for regional food justice</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#global-food-losses-and-food-waste-extent-causes-and-prevention-food-and-agriculture-organization-2011">Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, Causes and Prevention, Food and Agriculture Organization (2011)</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#2010-global-hunger-index">2010 Global Hunger Index</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2008">The State of Food Insecurity in the World-2008 </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26#report-on-the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-rural-india-2009">Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Rural India (2009)</a>
</li>
</ul>
<div><a style="display:none" href="javascript:void(0)" id="lesswhatsinsidelink" onClick="javascript:$('#morewhatsinside').hide();$('#morewhatsinsidelink').show();$('#lesswhatsinsidelink').hide();">Less</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify">According to <a name="global-food-losses-and-food-waste-extent-causes-and-prevention-food-and-agriculture-organization-2011">Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, Causes and Prevention, Food and Agriculture Organization (2011)</a>,<br /><a href="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/GFL_web.pdf" title="http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/GFL_web.pdf">http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ags/publications/<br />GFL_web.pdf</a>: <br /><br />• Roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year.<br /><br />• Overall, on a per-capita basis, much more food is wasted in the industrialized world than in developing countries. It is estimated that the per capita food waste by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.<br /><br />• Food losses refer to the decrease in edible food mass throughout the part of the supply chain that specifically leads to edible food for human consumption. Food losses take place at production, postharvest and processing stages in the food supply chain. Food losses occurring at the end of the food chain (retail and final consumption) are rather called “food waste”, which relates to retailers’ and consumers’ behavior.<br /><br />• In low-income countries food is mainly lost during the early and middle stages of the food supply chain; much less food is wasted at the consumer level. Food losses in industrialized countries are as high as in developing countries, but in developing countries more than 40% of the food losses occur at post harvest and processing levels, while in industrialized countries, more than 40% of the food losses occur at retail and consumer levels. Food waste at consumer level in industrialized countries (222 million ton) is almost as high as the total net food production in sub-Saharan Africa (230 million ton).<br /><br />• The causes of food losses and waste in low-income countries are mainly connected to financial, managerial and technical limitations in harvesting techniques, storage and cooling facilities in difficult climatic conditions, infrastructure, packaging and marketing systems. Producing food that will not be consumed leads to unnecessary CO2 emissions in addition to loss of economic value of the food produced.<br /><br />• Food can be wasted due to quality standards, which reject food items not perfect in shape or appearance. At the consumer level, insufficient purchase planning and expiring ‘best-before-dates’ also cause large amounts of waste, in combination with the careless attitude of those consumers who can afford to waste food.<br /><br />• Per capita food loss in Europe and North-America is 280-300 kg/year. In Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia it is 120-170 kg/year. The total per capita production of edible parts of food for human consumption is, in Europe and North-America, about 900 kg/year and, in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia, 460 kg/year.<br /><br />• Per capita food wasted by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.<br /><br />• In the case of meat and meat products losses and waste in industrialized regions are most severe at the end of the food supply chain—FSC, explained by a high per capita meat consumption combined with large waste proportions by retailers and consumers, especially in Europe and the U.S. Waste at the consumption level makes up approximately half of total meat losses and waste.<br /> </p><div><p style="text-align:justify"><em><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to John, Mason, Hunt, Joseph, Parker, David and Jonsson, Urban (1999): Investing in Child Nutrition in Asia, Asian Development Review, Vol. 17, nos. 1,2, pp. 1-32, </span></em><br /><em><a href="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care." title="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care.">http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17<br />-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf</a></em><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• About half the preschool children in Asia are considered to be malnourished, ranging from 16 percent underweight in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to 64 percent in Bangladesh, and a similar percentage are deficient in one or more micronutrients.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify">• Poor diet and infectious disease interact to cause growth failure in children, physiological damage especially to the immune system, and specific clinical conditions like anemia, leading to impaired development and death.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Malnutrition is the largest risk factor in the world for disability and premature mortality, especially in developing countries, and is entirely preventable. Eliminating malnutrition would cut child mortality by more than 50 percent, and reduce the burden of disease in developing countries by about 20 percent</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Micronutrient deficiencies, measured by specific signs, are very widespread, in fact more so than general malnutrition, in part because the poor first meet energy needs, and the cheapest energy sources are the lowest in micronutrients. The three of most concern are vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency, usually assessed as anemia, and iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs).</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Anemia resulting from iron deficiency is highly prevalent and showing no signs of declining in Asia. More than half the women of reproductive age are anemic, and children are similarly affected</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p></div><div style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to <a name="2010-global-hunger-index">2010 Global Hunger Index</a>, which has been brought out by International Food Policy research Institute (IFPRI), <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger-index-crisis-child-undernutrition" title="http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger-index-crisis-child-undernutrition">http://www.ifpri.org/pressroom/briefing/2010-global-hunger<br />-index-crisis-child-undernutrition</a>: </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The 2010 Global Hunger Index (GHI) is calculated for 122 developing countries and countries in transition for which data on the three components of hunger are available.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The Index scores countries based on three equally weighted indicators: the proportion of people who are undernourished, the proportion of children under five who are underweight, and the child mortality rate.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The Index ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst, although neither of these extremes is reached in practice.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• An increase in a country’s GHI score indicates that the hunger situation is worsening, while a decrease in the score indicates an improvement in the country’s hunger situation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• This year’s GHI reflects data from 2003-2008—the most recent available global data on the three components of hunger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Since 1990, the world’s GHI score has decreased by nearly 25 percent. However, global hunger remains at a “serious” level.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa continue to suffer from the highest levels of hunger, with regional scores of 22.9 and 21.7, respectively.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Vietnam made the most absolute progress in improving their scores between the 1990 GHI and 2010 GHI. In the same period, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Tunisia, and Turkey made the most relative progress in reducing hunger.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Undernutrition signifies deficiencies in energy, protein, and/or essential vitamins and minerals. Undernutrition is the result of inadequate intake of food—in terms of either quality or quantity—or poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illnesses, or a combination of these two factors.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Bangladesh, India, and Timor-Leste have the highest prevalence of underweight children in Asia– 40 percent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>Bangladesh: </em>Over the past 25 years, Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing its under-five mortality rate, as well as the prevalence of underweight and stunted children. Despite these improvements, 54 out of every 1,000 children do not survive to their fifth birthday and a staggering 43 percent of Bangladeshi children are stunted, accounting for almost 4 percent of stunted children worldwide.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>China: </em>Between 1990 and 2002, China reduced child malnutrition from 25 percent to 8 percent with a highly successful poverty alleviation strategy; effective large-scale health, nutrition, and family-planning interventions; and increased spending on water, sanitation, and education.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>India: </em>Between 1990 and 2008, the prevalence of underweight children dropped from 60 percent to 44 percent, while the under-five mortality rate fell from 12 percent to 7 percent.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• In 2005-06, about 44 percent of Indian children under age five were underweight and 48 percent were stunted. Because of the country’s large population, India is home to 42 percent of the world’s underweight children and 31 percent of its stunted children. </span></div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em>Malaysia:</em> Between 1990 and 2005, the proportion of children who were underweight decreased from 22 percent to 7 percent. This impressive reduction can be attributed to rapid economic growth, as well as interventions targeted to women and young children.<br /><br />• <em>Thailand: </em>During the 1980s, Thailand halved malnutrition from 50 percent to 25 percent by using targeted nutrition interventions and creating a widespread network of community volunteers to help change people’s behavior.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"><em>According to The State of Food Insecurity in the World: Addressing food insecurity in protracted crises, which has been brought out by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme, <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf" title="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf">http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf</a>: </em><br /><br />• The number of undernourished people in the world remains unacceptably high at near the one billion mark despite an expected decline in 2010 for the first time since 1995. This decline is largely attributable to increased economic growth foreseen in 2010 – particularly in developing countries – and the fall in international food prices since 2008.<br /><br />• A total of 925 million people are still estimated to be undernourished in 2010, representing almost 16 percent of the population of developing countries. The fact that nearly a billion people remain hungry even after the recent food and financial crises have largely passed indicates a deeper structural problem that gravely threatens the ability to achieve internationally agreed goals on hunger reduction: the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and the 1996 World Food Summit goal.<br /><br />• In the 22 countries identified by this report as being in protracted crisis (or containing areas in protracted crisis), the most recent data show that more than 166 million people are undernourished, representing nearly 40 percent of the population of these countries and nearly 20 percent of all undernourished people in the world.<br /><br />• This unacceptably high degree of hunger results from many factors, including armed conflict and natural disasters, often in combination with weak governance or public administration, scarce resources, unsustainable livelihoods systems and breakdown of local institutions.<br /><br />• On average, the proportion of people who are undernourished is almost three times as high in countries in protracted crisis as in other developing countries (if countries in protracted crisis and China and India are excluded). There are approximately 166 million undernourished people in countries in protracted crisis – roughly 20 percent of the world’s undernourished people, or more than a third of the global total if China and India are excluded from the calculation.<br /><br />• A deeper analysis of the relationship between protracted crisis and food security outcomes shows that changes in income, government effectiveness, control of corruption and the number of years in crisis are significantly related to the proportion of the population who are undernourished. These factors, plus education, are also all significantly related to a country’s Global Hunger Index.<br /><br />• Based on the latest available data, the total number of undernourished people in the world is estimated to have reached 1 023 million in 2009 and is expected to decline by 9.6 percent to 925 million in 2010. Developing countries account for 98 percent of the world’s undernourished people and have a prevalence of undernourishment of 16 percent – down from 18 percent in 2009 but still well above the target set by the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1.<br /><br />• International cereal prices have declined in recent months and are below their recent peaks, reflecting ample global cereal supplies in 2009/10 and prospects for large crops in 2010, but food prices in most low-income food-deficit countries remain above the pre-crisis level of early 2008, negatively affecting access to food by vulnerable populations.<br /><br />• Vulnerable households deal with shocks by selling assets, which are very difficult to rebuild, by reducing food consumption in terms of quantity and variety and by cutting down on health and education expenditures – coping mechanisms that all have long-term negative effects on quality of life and livelihoods.<br /><br />• The majority of the world’s undernourished people live in developing countries. Two-thirds live in just seven countries (Bangladesh, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Pakistan) and over 40 percent live in China and India alone.<br /><br />• The region with most undernourished people continues to be Asia and the Pacific, but with a 12 percent decline from 658 million in 2009 to 578 million, this region also accounts for most of the global improvement expected in 2010.<br /><br />• Developing countries as a group have seen an overall setback in terms of the World Food Summit goal (from 827 million in 1990–92 to 906 million in 2010), while some progress has been made towards MDG 1 (with the prevalence of hunger declining from 20 percent undernourished in 1990–92 to 16 percent in 2010).<br /><br />• The proportion of undernourished people remains highest in sub-Saharan Africa, at 30 percent in 2010. As of 2005–07 (the most recent period for which complete data are available), the Congo, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria had already achieved MDG 1 and Ethiopia and others were close to achieving it; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, the proportion of undernourishment had risen to 69 percent (from 26 percent in 1990–92).<br /><br />• In Asia, Armenia, Myanmar and Viet Nam had achieved MDG 1 and China and others were close to doing so, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica and Nicaragua had achieved MDG 1 and Brazil and others were approaching the target reduction.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to the FAO Report-<a name="the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-the-world-2008">The State of Food Insecurity in the World-2008 </a> </span><a href="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care." title="http://Trend%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kcal%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kcal%20in%201998*%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03*%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20resulting%20in%20rising%20food%20stocks%20in%20FCI%20%28Food%20Corporation%20of%20India%29%20godowns*%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished**%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies%20have%20resulted%20in%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29**%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%2072.6%%20in%20India***%20%20*Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan%20**%20Mason,%20John,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32%20***%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20Planning%20Commission,%20Government%20of%20India%20%20%20Read%20more%20%20%20According%20to%20John,%20Mason,%20Hunt,%20Joseph,%20Parker,%20David%20and%20Jonsson,%20Urban%20%281999%29:%20Investing%20in%20Child%20Nutrition%20in%20Asia,%20Asian%20Development%20Review,%20Vol.%2017,%20nos.%201,2,%20pp.%201-32,%20%20http://www.adb.org/documents/periodicals/adr/pdf/ADR-Vol17-Mason-Hunt-Parker-Jonsson.pdf%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20About%20half%20the%20preschool%20children%20in%20Asia%20are%20considered%20to%20be%20malnourished,%20ranging%20from%2016%20percent%20underweight%20in%20the%20People%E2%80%99s%20Republic%20of%20China%20%28PRC%29%20to%2064%20percent%20in%20Bangladesh,%20and%20a%20similar%20percentage%20are%20deficient%20in%20one%20or%20more%20micronutrients.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Poor%20diet%20and%20infectious%20disease%20interact%20to%20cause%20growth%20failure%20in%20children,%20physiological%20damage%20especially%20to%20the%20immune%20system,%20and%20specific%20clinical%20conditions%20like%20anemia,%20leading%20to%20impaired%20development%20and%20death.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Malnutrition%20is%20the%20largest%20risk%20factor%20in%20the%20world%20for%20disability%20and%20premature%20mortality,%20especially%20in%20developing%20countries,%20and%20is%20entirely%20preventable.%20Eliminating%20malnutrition%20would%20cut%20child%20mortality%20by%20more%20than%2050%20percent,%20and%20reduce%20the%20burden%20of%20disease%20in%20developing%20countries%20by%20about%2020%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Micronutrient%20deficiencies,%20measured%20by%20specific%20signs,%20are%20very%20widespread,%20in%20fact%20more%20so%20than%20general%20malnutrition,%20in%20part%20because%20the%20poor%20first%20meet%20energy%20needs,%20and%20the%20cheapest%20energy%20sources%20are%20the%20lowest%20in%20micronutrients.%20The%20three%20of%20most%20concern%20are%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29,%20iron%20deficiency,%20usually%20assessed%20as%20anemia,%20and%20iodine%20deficiency%20disorders%20%28IDDs%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Anemia%20resulting%20from%20iron%20deficiency%20is%20highly%20prevalent%20and%20showing%20no%20signs%20of%20declining%20in%20Asia.%20More%20than%20half%20the%20women%20of%20reproductive%20age%20are%20anemic,%20and%20children%20are%20similarly%20affected%20%20According%20to%20the%20FAO%20Report-The%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20the%20World-2008%20%20ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20World%20hunger%20is%20increasing:%20The%20World%20Food%20Summit%20%28WFS%29%20%20goal%20of%20halving%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20people%20in%20the%20world%20by%202015%20is%20becoming%20more%20difficult%20to%20reach%20for%20many%20countries.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20most%20recent%20estimates%20put%20the%20number%20of%20hungry%20people%20at%20923%20million%20in%202007,%20an%20increase%20of%20more%20than%2080%20million%20since%20the%201990%E2%80%9392%20base%20period.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20High%20food%20prices%20share%20much%20of%20the%20blame:%20The%20most%20rapid%20increase%20in%20chronic%20hunger%20experienced%20in%20recent%20years%20occurred%20between%202003%E2%80%9305%20and%202007.%20FAO%E2%80%99s%20provisional%20estimates%20show%20that,%20in%202007,%2075%20million%20more%20people%20were%20added%20to%20the%20total%20number%20of%20undernourished%20relative%20to%202003%E2%80%9305.%20While%20several%20factors%20are%20responsible,%20high%20food%20prices%20are%20driving%20millions%20of%20people%20into%20food%20insecurity,%20worsening%20conditions%20for%20many%20who%20were%20already%20%20food-insecure,%20and%20threatening%20long-term%20global%20food%20security.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20poorest,%20landless%20and%20female-headed%20households%20are%20the%20hardest%20hit:%20The%20vast%20majority%20of%20urban%20and%20rural%20households%20in%20the%20developing%20world%20rely%20on%20food%20purchases%20for%20most%20of%20their%20food%20and%20stand%20to%20lose%20from%20high%20food%20prices.%20High%20food%20prices%20reduce%20real%20income%20and%20worsen%20the%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity%20and%20malnutrition%20among%20the%20poor%20by%20reducing%20the%20quantity%20and%20quality%20of%20food%20consumed.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Initial%20governmental%20policy%20responses%20have%20had%20limited%20effect:%20To%20contain%20the%20negative%20effects%20of%20high%20food%20prices,%20governments%20have%20introduced%20various%20measures,%20such%20as%20price%20controls%20and%20export%20restrictions.%20While%20understandable%20from%20an%20immediate%20social%20welfare%20%20perspective,%20many%20of%20these%20actions%20have%20been%20ad%20hoc%20and%20are%20likely%20to%20be%20ineffective%20and%20unsustainable.%20Some%20have%20had%20damaging%20effects%20on%20world%20price%20levels%20and%20stability.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20By%20virtue%20of%20their%20size,%20China%20and%20India%20combined%20account%20for%2042%20percent%20of%20the%20chronically%20hungry%20people%20in%20thedeveloping%20world.%20The%20importance%20of%20China%20and%20India%20in%20the%20overall%20picture%20warrants%20some%20analysis%20of%20the%20main%20driving%20forces%20behind%20hunger%20trends%20%20%EF%82%B7%20After%20registering%20impressive%20gains%20between%201990%E2%80%9392%20and%20the%20mid-1990s,%20%20progress%20in%20reducing%20hunger%20in%20India%20has%20stalled%20since%20about%201995%E2%80%9397.%20The%20high%20proportion%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20in%20the%20base%20had%20a%20challenging%20task%20in%20reducing%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20increase%20in%20the%20number%20of%20undernourished%20in%20India%20can%20be%20traced%20to%20a%20slowing%20in%20the%20growth%20%28even%20a%20slight%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20for%20human%20consumption%20since%201995%E2%80%9397.%20On%20the%20demand%20side,%20life%20expectancy%20in%20India%20has%20increased%20from%2059%20to%2063%20years%20since%201990%E2%80%9392.%20This%20has%20had%20an%20important%20impact%20on%20the%20overall%20%20change%20in%20population%20structure,%20with%20the%20result%20that%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20the%20growth%20in%20minimum%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20had%20outpaced%20that%20of%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20combination%20of%20the%20declining%20per%20capita%20growth%20rate%20in%20total%20dietary%20energy%20supply%20and%20higher%20per%20capita%20dietary%20energy%20requirements%20resulted%20in%20an%20estimated%2024%20million%20more%20undernourished%20people%20in%20India%20in%202003%E2%80%9305%20compared%20with%20the%20base%20period.%20The%20increased%20food%20needs%20of%20the%20ageing%20population%20amount%20to%20about%206.5%20million%20tonnes%20per%20year%20in%20cereal%20equivalent.%20Nevertheless,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20hunger%20in%20India%20decreased%20from%2024%20percent%20in%201990%E2%80%9392%20to%2021%20percent%20in%202003%E2%80%9305,%20marking%20progress%20towards%20meeting%20the%20MDG%20hunger%20reduction%20target.%20%20According%20to%20the%20Report%20on%20the%20State%20of%20Food%20Insecurity%20in%20Rural%20India%20%282009%29,%20which%20has%20been%20prepared%20by%20the%20MS%20Swaminathan%20Research%20Foundation%20%28MSSRF%29%20and%20the%20World%20Food%20Programme%20%28WFP%29,%20http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:%20%20%EF%82%B7%20On%20the%20composite%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20of%20rural%20India,%20states%20like%20Jharkhand%20and%20Chhattisgarh%20are%20found%20in%20the%20%E2%80%98very%20high%E2%80%99%20level%20of%20food%20insecurity,%20followed%20by%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Bihar%20and%20Gujarat.%20The%20indicators%20used%20for%20computing%20the%20index%20of%20food%20insecurity%20in%20rural%20India%20are:%20a%29%20Percentage%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201,890%20Kcal%20/cu/diem;%20b%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water;%20c%29%20Percentage%20of%20households%20not%20having%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20the%20premises;%20d%29%20Percentage%20of%20ever-married%20women%20age%2015%20%E2%80%93%2049%20years%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20e%29%20Percentage%20of%20women%20%2815%20%E2%80%93%2049%20yrs%29%20with%20CED;%20f%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20anaemic;%20and,%20g%29%20Percentage%20of%20children%20in%20the%20age%20group%206%20%E2%80%93%2035%20months%20who%20are%20stunted%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20better%20performers%20include%20Himachal%20Pradesh,%20Kerala,%20Punjab%20and%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir,%20all%20of%20which%20report%20an%20Index%20value%20below%200.5%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20population%20consuming%20less%20than%201890%20kcal/cu/diem%20has%20in%20fact%20increased%20in%20the%20states%20of%20Orissa,%20Madhya%20Pradesh,%20Karnataka,%20West%20Bengal,%20Rajasthan%20and%20marginally%20for%20Punjab.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Almost%202/3rd%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Jharkhand%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20safe%20drinking%20water%20in%202001.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20More%20than%2090%20percent%20of%20rural%20households%20in%20Chhattisgarh,%20Jharkhand,%20Orissa%20and%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20did%20not%20have%20access%20to%20toilets%20within%20their%20premises.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20many%20as%20eight%20states%20-%20Andhra%20Pradesh,%20Bihar,%20Gujarat,%20Haryana,%20Karnataka,%20Kerala,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20and%20Rajasthan%20%E2%80%93%20have%20shown%20increase%20in%20the%20incidence%20of%20anaemia%20among%20women%20in%20the%20reproductive%20age%20group.%20The%20highest%20increase%20in%20anaemia%20levels%20has%20been%20observed%20in%20Andhra%20Pradesh%20%2851%20to%2064%20percent%29,%20followed%20by%20Haryana%20%2848%20to%2057%20percent%29%20and%20Kerala%20%2823%20to%2032%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20women%20with%20CED%20has%20drastically%20increased%20for%20Assam%20%2828%20to%2040%20percent%29%20followed%20by%20Bihar%20%2840%20to%2046%20percent%29,%20Madhya%20Pradesh%20%2842%20to%2045%20percent%29%20and%20Haryana%20%2831%20to%2033%20percent%29.%20%20%EF%82%B7%2012%20out%20of%2020%20states%20under%20consideration%20have%20figures%20higher%20than%2080%20percent%20for%20proportion%20of%20rural%20anaemic%20children.%20Bihar,%20that%20already%20had%20a%20high%20figure%20of%2081%20percent,%20has%20further%20increased%20to%2089%20percent.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20proportion%20of%20rural%20stunted%20children%20in%20Karnataka%20has%20increased%20from%2039%20to%2043%20percent%20%20%EF%82%B7%20While%20famines%20and%20starvation%20deaths%20remain%20the%20popular%20representation%20of%20the%20contemporary%20problem%20of%20hunger,%20one%20of%20the%20most%20significant%20yet%20understated%20and%20perhaps%20less%20visible%20area%20of%20concern%20today%20is%20that%20of%20chronic%20or%20persistent%20food%20and%20nutrition%20insecurity.%20This%20is%20a%20situation%20where%20people%20regularly%20subsist%20on%20a%20very%20minimal%20diet%20that%20has%20poor%20nutrient%20and%20calorific%20content%20as%20compared%20to%20medically%20prescribed%20norms.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20Targeted%20Public%20Distribution%20System%20%28TPDS%29%20has%20led%20to%20exclusion%20of%20large%20number%20of%20needy%20poor.%20The%20Report%20recommends%20a%20return%20to%20the%20%E2%80%98universal%20PDS%E2%80%99%20that%20existed%20till%201997.%20The%20Report%20also%20recommends%20universalization%20and%20effective%20implementation%20of%20ICDS%20and%20MDMS%20and%20employment%20generation%20programmes,%20like%20National%20Rural%20Employment%20Guarantee%20Scheme%20%28NREGS%29.%20Greater%20involvement%20of%20Panchayat%20Raj%20Institutions%20%28PRIs%29%20in%20food%20delivery%20at%20the%20grassroot%20level%20and%20integration%20of%20food%20and%20nutrition%20security%20objectives%20in%20ongoing%20Government%20initiatives%20like%20the%20National%20Food%20Security%20Mission%20and%20National%20Horticulture%20Mission%20are%20crucial.%20%20%20According%20to%20Patnaik,%20Utsa%20%282003%29:%20Agrarian%20Crisis%20and%20Distress%20in%20Rural%20India,%20Macroscan:%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%201990s%20have%20not%20only%20seen%20a%20steady%20decline%20in%20the%20level%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20country%20as%20a%20whole%20%28taking%20both%20rural%20and%20urban%20India%20together%29;%20the%20absolute%20amount%20of%20per%20capita%20food%20availability%20in%20the%20year%20200203%20was%20even%20lower%20than%20during%20the%20years%20of%20the%20Second%20World%20War-years%20that%20saw%20the%20terrible%20Bengal%20famine.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Average%20calorie%20intake%20per%20diem%20in%20rural%20area%20India%20has%20declined%20from%202309%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201983%20to%202011%20kilo%20calorie%20in%201998.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Per%20capita%20yearly%20net%20availability%20of%20foodgrains%20has%20declined%20from%20199.0%20kg%20during%201897-1902%20to%20141.50%20kg%20in%202002-03,%20which%20shows%20that%20the%20situation%20was%20better%20during%20the%20times%20when%20the%20Britishers%20ruled%20over%20India%20compared%20to%20the%20present%20situation.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20fact%20that%20accumulation%20of%20such%20enormous%20foodstocks%20has%20occurred%20despite%20a%20stagnation%20%28or%20even%20a%20marginal%20decline%29%20in%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20during%20the%201990s,%20suggests%20that%20the%20cause%20of%20this%20accumulation%20is%20the%20absence%20of%20adequate%20purchasing%20power%20of%20the%20rural%20population.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20period%20of%201990s%20has%20seen%20significant%20curtailment%20of%20purchasing%20power%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20working%20people,%20especially%20in%20rural%20India,%20which%20has%20caused%20growing%20distress%20on%20the%20one%20hand%20and%20an%20accumulation%20of%20unwanted%20foodstocks%20in%20the%20hands%20of%20the%20government%20on%20the%20other.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Not%20only%20has%20there%20been%20a%20remarkable%20decline%20in%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20agricultural%20output,%20but%20this%20rate%20of%20growth,%20whether%20of%20agriculture%20as%20a%20whole%20or%20of%20foodgrains,%20has%20fallen%20well%20below%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201990s%20while%20it%20had%20exceeded%20the%20rate%20of%20growth%20of%20population%20in%20the%201980s.%20The%201990s%20were%20indeed%20the%20first%20decade%20since%20independence%20when%20per%20capita%20foodgrain%20output%20in%20the%20country%20declined%20in%20absolute%20terms.%20%20According%20to%20the%2011th%20Five%20Year%20Plan,%20http://www.planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/11th/11_v2/11v2_ch4.pdf%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20National%20Nutrition%20Monitoring%20Bureau%20%28NNMB%29%20Report%20of%20December%202006%20reveals%20that%20the%20consumption%20of%20protective%20foods%20such%20as%20pulses,%20green%20leafy%20vegetables%20%28GLV%29,%20milk,%20and%20fruits%20was%20grossly%20inadequate.%20Consequently,%20the%20intakes%20of%20micronutrients%20such%20as%20iron,%20vitamin%20A,%20riboflavin,%20and%20folic%20acid%20were%20far%20below%20the%20recommended%20levels%20in%20all%20the%20age%20groups.%20%20%20%EF%82%B7%20The%20data%20from%20nutritional%20survey%20of%20children%20under%20five%20years%20shows%20that%20the%20prevalence%20of%20signs%20of%20moderate%20vitamin%20A%20deficiency%20%28VAD%29%20%28Bitot%20spots%20on%20conjunctiva%20in%20eyes%29%20and%20that%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20%28angular%20stomatitis%29%20was%20about%200.6%%20and%200.8%%20respectively%20among%20the%20preschool%20children.%20Among%20the%20school%20age%20children,%20Bitot%20Spots%20were%20found%20in%201.9%,%20and%20the%20prevalence%20of%20B-complex%20deficiency%20and%20of%20mottling%20of%20teeth%20%28dental%20fluorosis%29%20was%202%%20each.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20As%20per%20District%20Level%20Health%20Survey%20%28DLHS%29%20%282002%E2%80%9304%29,%20the%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20is%20very%20high%20%2872.6%%29%20in%20India%20with%20prevalence%20of%20severe%20anaemia%20among%20them%20much%20higher%20%2821.1%%29%20than%20that%20in%20preschool%20children%20%282.1%%29.%20In%20adolescent%20girls,%20educational%20or%20economic%20status%20does%20not%20seem%20to%20make%20much%20of%20a%20difference%20in%20terms%20of%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia.%20Prevention,%20detection,%20or%20management%20of%20anaemia%20in%20adolescent%20girls%20has%20till%20now%20not%20received%20much%20attention.%20%20%EF%82%B7%20Prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20is%20very%20high%20among%20young%20children%20%286%E2%80%9335%20months%29,%20ever-married%20women%20%2815%E2%80%9349%20years%29,%20and%20pregnant%20women%20%28Annexure%204.1.3%29.%20Overall,%2072.7%%20of%20children%20up%20to%20the%20age%20of%20three%20in%20urban%20areas%20and%2081.2%%20in%20rural%20areas%20are%20anaemic.%20The%20overall%20prevalence%20has%20increased%20from%2074.2%%20%281998%E2%80%9399%29%20to%2079.2%%20%282005%E2%80%9306%29.%20Nagaland%20had%20the%20lowest%20prevalence%20%2844.3%%29,%20Goa%20was%20next%20%2849.3%%29,%20followed%20by%20Mizoram%20%2851.7%%29.%20Bihar%20had%20the%20highest%20prevalence%20%2887.6%%29%20followed%20closely%20by%20Rajasthan%20%2885.1%%29,%20and%20Karnataka%20%2882.7%%29.%20Moderate%20and%20severe%20anaemia%20is%20seen%20even%20among%20the%20educated%20families%20both%20in%20urban%20and%20rural%20areas.%20There%20are%20inter-State%20differences%20in%20prevalence%20of%20anaemia%20that%20are%20perhaps%20attributable%20partly%20to%20differences%20in%20dietary%20intake%20and%20partly%20to%20access%20to%20health%20care.">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0291e/i0291e02.pdf</a>: </p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p><div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• <em><strong>World hunger is increasing: </strong></em>The World Food Summit (WFS) goal of halving the number of undernourished people in the world by 2015 is becoming more difficult to reach for many countries. FAO’s most recent estimates put the number of hungry people at 923 million in 2007, an increase of more than 80 million since the 1990–92 base period.</span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium"> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify">• <em><strong>High food prices share much of the blame: </strong></em>The most rapid increase in chronic hunger experienced in recent years occurred between 2003–05 and 2007. FAO’s provisional estimates show that, in 2007, 75 million more people were added to the total number of undernourished relative to 2003–05. While several factors are responsible, high food prices are driving millions of people into food insecurity, worsening conditions for many who were already food-insecure, and threatening long-term global food security.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• <em><strong>The poorest, landless and female-headed households are the hardest hit: </strong></em>The vast majority of urban and rural households in the developing world rely on food purchases for most of their food and stand to lose from high food prices. High food prices reduce real income and worsen the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition among the poor by reducing the quantity and quality of food consumed.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• Initial governmental policy responses have had limited effect: To contain the negative effects of high food prices, governments have introduced various measures, such as price controls and export restrictions. While understandable from an immediate social welfare perspective, many of these actions have been ad hoc and are likely to be ineffective and unsustainable. Some have had damaging effects on world price levels and stability.</p><p style="text-align:justify">• By virtue of their size, China and India combined account for 42 percent of the chronically hungry people in thedeveloping world. The importance of China and India in the overall picture warrants some analysis of the main driving forces behind hunger trends</p><p style="text-align:justify">• After registering impressive gains between 1990–92 and the mid-1990s, progress in reducing hunger in India has stalled since about 1995–97. The high proportion of undernourished in India in the base had a challenging task in reducing the number of undernourished</p><p style="text-align:justify">• The increase in the number of undernourished in India can be traced to a slowing in the growth (even a slight decline) in per capita dietary energy supply for human consumption since 1995–97. On the demand side, life expectancy in India has increased from 59 to 63 years since 1990–92. This has had an important impact on the overall change in population structure, with the result that in 2003–05 the growth in minimum dietary energy requirements had outpaced that of dietary energy supply</p><p style="text-align:justify">• The combination of the declining per capita growth rate in total dietary energy supply and higher per capita dietary energy requirements resulted in an estimated 24 million more undernourished people in India in 2003–05 compared with the base period. The increased food needs of the ageing population amount to about 6.5 million tonnes per year in cereal equivalent. Nevertheless, the prevalence of hunger in India decreased from 24 percent in 1990–92 to 21 percent in 2003–05, marking progress towards meeting the MDG hunger reduction target.</p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p></div><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">According to the <a name="report-on-the-state-of-food-insecurity-in-rural-india-2009">Report on the State of Food Insecurity in Rural India (2009)</a>, which has been prepared by the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the World Food Programme (WFP),</span><br /><a href="http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:" title="http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsroom/wfp197348.pdf:">http://home.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/newsr<br />oom/wfp197348.pdf:</a></p><p style="text-align:justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• On the composite index of food insecurity of rural India, states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are found in the ‘very high’ level of food insecurity, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. The indicators used for computing the index of food insecurity in rural India are: a) Percentage of population consuming less than 1,890 Kcal /cu/diem; b) Percentage of households not having access to safe drinking water; c) Percentage of households not having access to toilets within the premises; d) Percentage of ever-married women age 15 – 49 years who are anaemic; e) Percentage of women (15 – 49 yrs) with CED; f) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are anaemic; and, g) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are stunted</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The better performers include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, all of which report an Index value below 0.5</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The proportion of population consuming less than 1890 kcal/cu/diem has in fact increased in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Rajasthan and marginally for Punjab.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• Almost 2/3rd of rural households in Jharkhand did not have access to safe drinking water in 2001.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• More than 90 percent of rural households in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh did not have access to toilets within their premises.</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• As many as eight states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – have shown increase in the incidence of anaemia among women in the reproductive age group. The highest increase in anaemia levels has been observed in Andhra Pradesh (51 to 64 percent), followed by Haryana (48 to 57 percent) and Kerala (23 to 32 percent).</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:medium">• The proportion of women with CED has drastically increased for Assam (28 to 40 percent) followed by Bihar (40 to 46 percent), Madhya Pradesh (42 to 45 percent) and Haryana (31 to 33 percent).</span></p><p style="text-align:justify"> </p> <br>
<div align="center" class="pagination">
<span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25" class="articlepagination">« previous</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=1" class="articlepagination">1</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=2" class="articlepagination">2</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=3" class="articlepagination">3</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=4" class="articlepagination">4</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=5" class="articlepagination">5</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=6" class="articlepagination">6</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=7" class="articlepagination">7</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=8" class="articlepagination">8</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=9" class="articlepagination">9</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=10" class="articlepagination">10</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=11" class="articlepagination">11</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=12" class="articlepagination">12</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=13" class="articlepagination">13</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=14" class="articlepagination">14</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=15" class="articlepagination">15</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=16" class="articlepagination">16</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=17" class="articlepagination">17</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=18" class="articlepagination">18</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=19" class="articlepagination">19</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=20" class="articlepagination">20</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=21" class="articlepagination">21</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=22" class="articlepagination">22</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=23" class="articlepagination">23</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=24" class="articlepagination">24</a></span><span><a href="https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=25" class="articlepagination">25</a></span><span class="current">26</span><span class="disabled ">next »</span> </div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<br><a href='/experts.php' class='re'>Rural Expert</a><div class="clear"></div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<div class="comment-respond" id="respond">
<a name="commentbox"> </a>
<h3 class="comment-reply-title" id="reply-title">Write Comments</h3>
<form method="post" accept-charset="utf-8" role="form" action="/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"><div style="display:none;"><input type="hidden" name="_method" value="POST"/></div> <form class="comment-form" id="commentform" method="post" action="#commentbox" onSubmit="return validate()"
name="cmtform">
<input type="hidden" name="cmttype" value="articlecmt"/>
<input type="hidden" name="article_id" value="12"/>
<p class="comment-notes">Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked <span
class="required">*</span></p>
<p class="comment-form-author">
<label for="commenterName">Name</label>
<span class="required">*</span>
<input type="text" aria-required="true" size="30"
value=""
name="commenterName" id="commenterName" required="true">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-email">
<label for="commenterEmail">Email</label> <span class="required">*</span>
<input aria-required="true" size="30" name="commenterEmail" id="commenterEmail" type="email"
value=""
required="true">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-contact">
<label for="commenterPh">Contact No.</label>
<input type="text" size="30"
value=""
name="commenterPh" id="commenterPh">
</p>
<p class="comment-form-comment">
<label for="comment">Comment</label>
<textarea aria-required="true" required="true" rows="8" cols="45" name="comment"
id="comment"></textarea>
</p>
<p class="comment-form-comment">
<label for="comment">Type the characters you see in the image below <span class="required">*</span><br><img
class="captchaImg"
src="https://im4change.in/securimage_show_art.php?tk=815708671" alt="captcha"/>
</label>
</p>
<input type="text" name="vrcode" required="true"/>
<p class="form-submit" style="width: 200px;">
<input type="submit" value="Post Comment" id="submit" name="submit">
</p></form>
</div>
<style>
.ui-widget-content {
height: auto !important;
}
</style>
<div id="share-modal"></div>
<style>
.middleContent a{
background-color: rgba(108,172,228,.2);
}
.middleContent a:hover{
background-color: #418fde;
border-color: #418fde;
color: #000;
}
</style>
<script>
function shareArticle(article_id) {
var options = {
modal: true,
height: 'auto',
width: 600 + 'px'
};
$('#share-modal').html("");
$('#share-modal').load('https://im4change.in/share_article?article_id=' + article_id).dialog(options).dialog('open');
}
function postShare() {
var param = 'article_id=' + $("#article_id").val();
param = param + '&y_name=' + $("#y_name").val();
param = param + '&y_email=' + $("#y_email").val();
param = param + '&f_name=' + $("#f_name").val();
param = param + '&f_email=' + $("#f_email").val();
param = param + '&y_msg=' + $("#y_msg").val();
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: 'https://im4change.in/post_share_article',
data: param,
success: function (response) {
$('#share-modal').html("Thank You, Your message posted to ");
}
});
return false;
}
</script> </div>
</div>
<!-- Right Side Section Start -->
<!-- MAP Section START -->
<aside class="sidebar indexMarg">
<div class="ad-cell">
<a href="https://im4change.in/statemap.php" title="">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/map_new_version.png?1582080666" alt="India State Map" class="indiamap" width="232" height="252"/> </a>
<div class="rightmapbox">
<div id="sideOne" class="docltitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/state-report/india/36" target="_blank">DOCUMENTS/
REPORTS</a></div>
<div id="sideTwo" class="statetitle"><a href="https://im4change.in/states.php"target="_blank">STATE DATA/
HDRs.</a></div>
</div>
<div class="widget widgePadTop"></div>
</div>
</aside>
<!-- MAP Section END -->
<aside class="sidebar sidePadbottom">
<div class="rightsmlbox1" >
<a href="https://im4change.in/knowledge_gateway" target="_blank" style="color: #035588;
font-size: 17px;">
KNOWLEDGE GATEWAY
</a>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
<a href="https://im4change.in/newsletter" target="_blank">
NEWSLETTER
</a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 325px;">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava
</p>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/interview-with-prof-ravi-srivastava-on-current-economic-crisis">
<img width="250" height="200" src="/images/interview_video_home.jpg" alt="Interview with Prof. Ravi Srivastava"/>
</a>
<!--
<iframe width="250" height="200" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmaTlntk-wc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>-->
</p>
<a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery" class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More videos
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<!--div id="sstory" class="rightboxicons"></div--->
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://im4change.in/list-success-stories" target="_blank">Success Stories</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
href="https://im4change.in/interviews" target="_blank">Interviews</a>
</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a href="https://www.commoncause.in/page.php?id=10" >Donate</a></p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1">
<div>
<p class="rightsmlbox1_title"><a
href="https://im4change.in/marquee"
class="isf_link more-link" title="India Focus?" style="border: 4px solid #fdd922;width: 90%;background-color: #fdd922;text-align: center;color: #000000;font-size:18px" target="_blank">India Focus</a></p> </div>
</div>
<div class="rightsmlbox1" style="height: 104px !important;">
<a href="https://im4change.in/quarterly_reports.php" target="_blank">
Quarterly Reports on Effect of Economic Slowdown on Employment in India (2008 - 2015)
</a>
</div>
<!-- <div class="rightsmlbox1">
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.im4.im4change" target="_blank">
</a></div> -->
<!-- <section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
<h2 class="cat-box-title">Most Visited</h2>
</section> -->
<!-- accordion Starts here -->
<!-- <div id="accordion" class="accordMarg">
</div> -->
<!-- accordion ends here -->
<!-- Widget Tag Cloud Starts here -->
<div id="tag_cloud-2" class="widget widget_tag_cloud">
<section class="cat-box recent-box secMarg">
<h2 class="cat-box-title">MOST VISITED TAGS</h2>
</section>
<div class="widget-top wiPdTp">
<div class="stripe-line"></div>
</div>
<div class="widget-container">
<div class="tagcloud">
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Agriculture"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Agriculture</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Food Security"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Food Security</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Law and Justice"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Law and Justice</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Health"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Health</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Food"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Food</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Corruption"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Corruption</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=farming"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">farming</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Environment"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Environment</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Right to Information"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Right to Information</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=NREGS"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">NREGS</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Human Rights"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Human Rights</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Governance"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Governance</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PDS"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PDS</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=COVID-19"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">COVID-19</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Land Acquisition"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Land Acquisition</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=mgnrega"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">mgnrega</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farmers"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farmers</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=transparency"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">transparency</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Gender"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Gender</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Poverty"
target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Poverty</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Farm Laws" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Farm Laws
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Citizenship Amendment Act" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Citizenship Amendment Act
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=CAA NPR NRIC" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">CAA NPR NRIC
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Job Losses" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Job Losses
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Migrant Workers" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Migrant Workers
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=Unemployment" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">Unemployment
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PMGKAY" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PMGKAY
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-KISAN" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-KISAN
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=PM-CARES" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">PM-CARES
</a>
<a href="https://im4change.in/search?qryStr=LFPR" target="_blank" class="tag-link-4 font4">LFPR
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Widget Tag Cloud Ends here -->
</aside>
<!-- Right Side Section End -->
</div>
<section class="cat-box cats-review-box footerSec">
<h2 class="cat-box-title vSec CatArcha">Video
Archives</h2>
<h2 class="cat-box-title CatArchaTitle">Archives</h2>
<div class="cat-box-content">
<div class="reviews-cat">
<div class="CatArchaDiv1">
<div class="CatArchaDiv2">
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/moving-upstream-luni-fellowship.html" target="_blank">
Moving Upstream: Luni – Fellowship </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/135-million-indians-exited-multidimensional-poverty-as-per-government-figures-is-that-the-same-as-poverty-reduction.html" target="_blank">
135 Million Indians Exited “Multidimensional" Poverty as per Government... </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/explainer-why-are-tomato-prices-on-fire.html" target="_blank">
Explainer: Why are Tomato Prices on Fire? </a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57/nsso-survey-only-39-1-of-all-households-have-drinking-water-within-dwelling-46-7-of-rural-households-use-firewood-for-cooking.html" target="_blank">
NSSO Survey: Only 39.1% of all Households have Drinking... </a>
</li>
<li class="CatArchalLi1">
<a href="https://im4change.in/news-alerts-57"
class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More...
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/I51LYnP8BOk/1.jpg"
alt=" Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Short-Video-on-im4change-Hindi-website-Inclusive-Media-for-Change" target="_blank">
Im4Change.org हिंदी वेबसाइट का परिचय. Short Video on im4change.org... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/kNqha-SwfIY/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-1- Scope-of-IDEA-and-AgriStack-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 1: Scope of IDEA and AgriStack" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/6kIVjlgZItk/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-2-Farmer-Centric-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 2: Farmer Centric Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="CatArchaWidth">
<img class="CatArchaImg"
src="https://img.youtube.com/vi/2BeHTu0y7xc/1.jpg"
alt=" "Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring...">
<p class="CatArchaPPad">
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Session-3-Future-of-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-in-Exploring-Digitalisation-in-Agriculture-29-April-2022" target="_blank">
"Session 3: Future of Digitalisation in Agriculture" in Exploring... </a>
</p>
</div>
<div class="divWidth">
<ul class="divWidthMarg">
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Public-Spending-on-Agriculture-in-India-Source-Foundation-for-Agrarian-Studies"
title="Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for Agrarian Studies)" target="_blank">
Public Spending on Agriculture in India (Source: Foundation for...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Agrarian-Change-Seminar-Protests-against-the-New-Farm-Laws-in-India-by-Prof-Vikas-Rawal-JNU-Source-Journal-Of-Agrarian-Change"
title="Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws in India' by Prof. Vikas Rawal, JNU (Source: Journal Of Agrarian Change) " target="_blank">
Agrarian Change Seminar: 'Protests against the New Farm Laws...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/Webinar-Ramrao-The-Story-of-India-Farm-Crisis-Source-Azim-Premji-University"
title="Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis (Source: Azim Premji University)" target="_blank">
Webinar: Ramrao - The Story of India's Farm Crisis...</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://im4change.in/video/water-and-agricultural-transformation-in-India"
title="Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship (Source: IGIDR)" target="_blank">
Water and Agricultural Transformation in India: A Symbiotic Relationship...</a>
</li>
<li class="CatArchalLi1">
<a href="https://im4change.in/videogallery"
class="more-link CatArchalAnch1" target="_blank">
More...
</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section> </div>
<div class="clear"></div>
<!-- Footer option Starts here -->
<div class="footer-bottom fade-in animated4">
<div class="container">
<div class="social-icons icon_flat">
<p class="SocialMargTop"> Website Developed by <a target="_blank" title="Web Development"
class="wot right"
href="http://www.ravinderkhurana.com/" rel="nofollow">
RAVINDErkHURANA.com</a></p>
</div>
<div class="alignleft">
<a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/objectives-8.html"
class="link"
title="Objectives">Objectives</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/about-us-9.html"
class="link" title="About Us">About Us</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/media-workshops.php"
class="ucwords">Workshops</a> | <a
target="_blank" href="https://im4change.in/disclaimer/disclaimer-149.html"
title="Disclaimer">Disclaimer</a> </div>
</div>
</div>
<!-- Footer option ends here -->
</div>
<div id="connect">
<a target="_blank"
href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"
title="Share on Facebook">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/Facebook.png?1582080640" alt="share on Facebook" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a><br/>
<a target="_blank"
href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Im4change&url=https://im4change.in/hunger-hdi/hunger-overview-40.html?pgno=26"
title="Share on Twitter">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/twitter.png?1582080632" alt="Twitter" class="ImgBorder"/> </a>
<br/>
<a href="/feeds" title="RSS Feed" target="_blank">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/rss.png?1582080632" alt="RSS" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a>
<br/>
<a class="feedback-link" id="feedbackFormLink" href="#">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/feedback.png?1582080630" alt="Feedback" class="ImgBorder"/>
</a> <br/>
<a href="javascript:function iprl5(){var d=document,z=d.createElement('scr'+'ipt'),b=d.body,l=d.location;try{if(!b)throw(0);d.title='(Saving...) '+d.title;z.setAttribute('src',l.protocol+'//www.instapaper.com/j/WKrH3R7ORD5p?u='+encodeURIComponent(l.href)+'&t='+(new Date().getTime()));b.appendChild(z);}catch(e){alert('Please wait until the page has loaded.');}}iprl5();void(0)"
class="bookmarklet" onclick="return explain_bookmarklet();">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/read-it-later.png?1582080632" alt="Read Later" class="ImgBorder"/> </a>
</div>
<!-- Feedback form Starts here -->
<div id="feedbackForm" class="overlay_form" class="ImgBorder">
<h2>Contact Form</h2>
<div id="contactform1">
<div id="formleft">
<form id="submitform" action="/contactus.php" method="post">
<input type="hidden" name="submitform" value="submitform"/>
<input type="hidden" name="salt_key" value="a0e0f2c6a0644a70e57ad2c96829709a"/>
<input type="hidden" name="ref" value="feedback"/>
<fieldset>
<label>Name :</label>
<input type="text" name="name" class="tbox" required/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<label>Email :</label>
<input type="text" name="email" class="tbox" required/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<label>Message :</label>
<textarea rows="5" cols="20" name="message" required></textarea>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
Please enter security code
<div class="clear"></div>
<input type="text" name="vrcode" class="tbox"/>
</fieldset>
<fieldset>
<input type="submit" class="button" value="Submit"/>
<a href="#" id="closefeedbakcformLink">Close</a>
</fieldset>
</form>
</div>
<div class="clearfix"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="donate_popup" class="modal" style="max-width: 800px;">
<table width="100%" border="1">
<tr>
<td colspan="2" align="center">
<b>Support im4change</b>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="25%" valign="middle">
<img src="https://im4change.in/images/logo2.jpg?1582080632" alt="" width="100%"/> </td>
<td style="padding-left:10px;padding-top:10px;">
<form action="https://im4change.in/donate" method="get">
<table width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
<tr>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
10
</td>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
100
</td>
<td width="33%" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
1000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
50
</td>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
500
</td>
<td style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
<input type="text" name="price" placeholder="?" style="font-family: 'Script Font', cursive, Arial;font-size: 20px;font-weight: 700;">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" align="right">
<input type="button" name="Pay" value="Pay"
style="width: 200px;background-color: rgb(205, 35, 36);color: #ffffff;"/>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</form>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
</div><script type='text/javascript'>
/* <![CDATA[ */
var tievar = {'go_to': 'Go to...'};
/* ]]> */
</script>
<script src="/js/tie-scripts.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/bootstrap.js?1575549704"></script><script src="/js/jquery.modal.min.js?1578284310"></script><script>
$(document).ready(function() {
// tell the autocomplete function to get its data from our php script
$('#s').autocomplete({
source: "/autocomplete"
});
});
</script>
<script src="/vj-main-sw-register.js" async></script>
<script>function init(){var imgDefer=document.getElementsByTagName('img');for(var i=0;i<imgDefer.length;i++){if(imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src')){imgDefer[i].setAttribute('src',imgDefer[i].getAttribute('data-src'))}}}
window.onload=init;</script>
</body>
</html>'
}
$cookies = []
$values = [
(int) 0 => 'text/html; charset=UTF-8'
]
$name = 'Content-Type'
$first = true
$value = 'text/html; charset=UTF-8'
header - [internal], line ??
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emitHeaders() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181
Cake\Http\ResponseEmitter::emit() - CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 55
Cake\Http\Server::emit() - CORE/src/Http/Server.php, line 141
[main] - ROOT/webroot/index.php, line 39
• Roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year.
• Overall, on a per-capita basis, much more food is wasted in the industrialized world than in developing countries. It is estimated that the per capita food waste by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.
• Food losses refer to the decrease in edible food mass throughout the part of the supply chain that specifically leads to edible food for human consumption. Food losses take place at production, postharvest and processing stages in the food supply chain. Food losses occurring at the end of the food chain (retail and final consumption) are rather called “food waste”, which relates to retailers’ and consumers’ behavior.
• In low-income countries food is mainly lost during the early and middle stages of the food supply chain; much less food is wasted at the consumer level. Food losses in industrialized countries are as high as in developing countries, but in developing countries more than 40% of the food losses occur at post harvest and processing levels, while in industrialized countries, more than 40% of the food losses occur at retail and consumer levels. Food waste at consumer level in industrialized countries (222 million ton) is almost as high as the total net food production in sub-Saharan Africa (230 million ton).
• The causes of food losses and waste in low-income countries are mainly connected to financial, managerial and technical limitations in harvesting techniques, storage and cooling facilities in difficult climatic conditions, infrastructure, packaging and marketing systems. Producing food that will not be consumed leads to unnecessary CO2 emissions in addition to loss of economic value of the food produced.
• Food can be wasted due to quality standards, which reject food items not perfect in shape or appearance. At the consumer level, insufficient purchase planning and expiring ‘best-before-dates’ also cause large amounts of waste, in combination with the careless attitude of those consumers who can afford to waste food.
• Per capita food loss in Europe and North-America is 280-300 kg/year. In Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia it is 120-170 kg/year. The total per capita production of edible parts of food for human consumption is, in Europe and North-America, about 900 kg/year and, in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia, 460 kg/year.
• Per capita food wasted by consumers in Europe and North-America is 95-115 kg/year, while this figure in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia is only 6-11 kg/year.
• In the case of meat and meat products losses and waste in industrialized regions are most severe at the end of the food supply chain—FSC, explained by a high per capita meat consumption combined with large waste proportions by retailers and consumers, especially in Europe and the U.S. Waste at the consumption level makes up approximately half of total meat losses and waste.
• About half the preschool children in Asia are considered to be malnourished, ranging from 16 percent underweight in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to 64 percent in Bangladesh, and a similar percentage are deficient in one or more micronutrients.
• Poor diet and infectious disease interact to cause growth failure in children, physiological damage especially to the immune system, and specific clinical conditions like anemia, leading to impaired development and death.
• Malnutrition is the largest risk factor in the world for disability and premature mortality, especially in developing countries, and is entirely preventable. Eliminating malnutrition would cut child mortality by more than 50 percent, and reduce the burden of disease in developing countries by about 20 percent
• Micronutrient deficiencies, measured by specific signs, are very widespread, in fact more so than general malnutrition, in part because the poor first meet energy needs, and the cheapest energy sources are the lowest in micronutrients. The three of most concern are vitamin A deficiency (VAD), iron deficiency, usually assessed as anemia, and iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs).
• Anemia resulting from iron deficiency is highly prevalent and showing no signs of declining in Asia. More than half the women of reproductive age are anemic, and children are similarly affected
• The 2010 Global Hunger Index (GHI) is calculated for 122 developing countries and countries in transition for which data on the three components of hunger are available.
• The Index scores countries based on three equally weighted indicators: the proportion of people who are undernourished, the proportion of children under five who are underweight, and the child mortality rate.
• The Index ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst, although neither of these extremes is reached in practice.
• An increase in a country’s GHI score indicates that the hunger situation is worsening, while a decrease in the score indicates an improvement in the country’s hunger situation.
• This year’s GHI reflects data from 2003-2008—the most recent available global data on the three components of hunger.
• Since 1990, the world’s GHI score has decreased by nearly 25 percent. However, global hunger remains at a “serious” level.
• South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa continue to suffer from the highest levels of hunger, with regional scores of 22.9 and 21.7, respectively.
• Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mozambique, Nicaragua, and Vietnam made the most absolute progress in improving their scores between the 1990 GHI and 2010 GHI. In the same period, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Tunisia, and Turkey made the most relative progress in reducing hunger.
• Undernutrition signifies deficiencies in energy, protein, and/or essential vitamins and minerals. Undernutrition is the result of inadequate intake of food—in terms of either quality or quantity—or poor utilization of nutrients due to infections or other illnesses, or a combination of these two factors.
• Bangladesh, India, and Timor-Leste have the highest prevalence of underweight children in Asia– 40 percent.
• Bangladesh: Over the past 25 years, Bangladesh has made significant progress in reducing its under-five mortality rate, as well as the prevalence of underweight and stunted children. Despite these improvements, 54 out of every 1,000 children do not survive to their fifth birthday and a staggering 43 percent of Bangladeshi children are stunted, accounting for almost 4 percent of stunted children worldwide.
• China: Between 1990 and 2002, China reduced child malnutrition from 25 percent to 8 percent with a highly successful poverty alleviation strategy; effective large-scale health, nutrition, and family-planning interventions; and increased spending on water, sanitation, and education.
• India: Between 1990 and 2008, the prevalence of underweight children dropped from 60 percent to 44 percent, while the under-five mortality rate fell from 12 percent to 7 percent.
• In 2005-06, about 44 percent of Indian children under age five were underweight and 48 percent were stunted. Because of the country’s large population, India is home to 42 percent of the world’s underweight children and 31 percent of its stunted children.
• Malaysia: Between 1990 and 2005, the proportion of children who were underweight decreased from 22 percent to 7 percent. This impressive reduction can be attributed to rapid economic growth, as well as interventions targeted to women and young children.
• Thailand: During the 1980s, Thailand halved malnutrition from 50 percent to 25 percent by using targeted nutrition interventions and creating a widespread network of community volunteers to help change people’s behavior.
According to The State of Food Insecurity in the World: Addressing food insecurity in protracted crises, which has been brought out by the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Food Programme, http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1683e/i1683e.pdf:
• The number of undernourished people in the world remains unacceptably high at near the one billion mark despite an expected decline in 2010 for the first time since 1995. This decline is largely attributable to increased economic growth foreseen in 2010 – particularly in developing countries – and the fall in international food prices since 2008.
• A total of 925 million people are still estimated to be undernourished in 2010, representing almost 16 percent of the population of developing countries. The fact that nearly a billion people remain hungry even after the recent food and financial crises have largely passed indicates a deeper structural problem that gravely threatens the ability to achieve internationally agreed goals on hunger reduction: the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and the 1996 World Food Summit goal.
• In the 22 countries identified by this report as being in protracted crisis (or containing areas in protracted crisis), the most recent data show that more than 166 million people are undernourished, representing nearly 40 percent of the population of these countries and nearly 20 percent of all undernourished people in the world.
• This unacceptably high degree of hunger results from many factors, including armed conflict and natural disasters, often in combination with weak governance or public administration, scarce resources, unsustainable livelihoods systems and breakdown of local institutions.
• On average, the proportion of people who are undernourished is almost three times as high in countries in protracted crisis as in other developing countries (if countries in protracted crisis and China and India are excluded). There are approximately 166 million undernourished people in countries in protracted crisis – roughly 20 percent of the world’s undernourished people, or more than a third of the global total if China and India are excluded from the calculation.
• A deeper analysis of the relationship between protracted crisis and food security outcomes shows that changes in income, government effectiveness, control of corruption and the number of years in crisis are significantly related to the proportion of the population who are undernourished. These factors, plus education, are also all significantly related to a country’s Global Hunger Index.
• Based on the latest available data, the total number of undernourished people in the world is estimated to have reached 1 023 million in 2009 and is expected to decline by 9.6 percent to 925 million in 2010. Developing countries account for 98 percent of the world’s undernourished people and have a prevalence of undernourishment of 16 percent – down from 18 percent in 2009 but still well above the target set by the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1.
• International cereal prices have declined in recent months and are below their recent peaks, reflecting ample global cereal supplies in 2009/10 and prospects for large crops in 2010, but food prices in most low-income food-deficit countries remain above the pre-crisis level of early 2008, negatively affecting access to food by vulnerable populations.
• Vulnerable households deal with shocks by selling assets, which are very difficult to rebuild, by reducing food consumption in terms of quantity and variety and by cutting down on health and education expenditures – coping mechanisms that all have long-term negative effects on quality of life and livelihoods.
• The majority of the world’s undernourished people live in developing countries. Two-thirds live in just seven countries (Bangladesh, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia and Pakistan) and over 40 percent live in China and India alone.
• The region with most undernourished people continues to be Asia and the Pacific, but with a 12 percent decline from 658 million in 2009 to 578 million, this region also accounts for most of the global improvement expected in 2010.
• Developing countries as a group have seen an overall setback in terms of the World Food Summit goal (from 827 million in 1990–92 to 906 million in 2010), while some progress has been made towards MDG 1 (with the prevalence of hunger declining from 20 percent undernourished in 1990–92 to 16 percent in 2010).
• The proportion of undernourished people remains highest in sub-Saharan Africa, at 30 percent in 2010. As of 2005–07 (the most recent period for which complete data are available), the Congo, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria had already achieved MDG 1 and Ethiopia and others were close to achieving it; in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, the proportion of undernourishment had risen to 69 percent (from 26 percent in 1990–92).
• In Asia, Armenia, Myanmar and Viet Nam had achieved MDG 1 and China and others were close to doing so, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, Guyana, Jamaica and Nicaragua had achieved MDG 1 and Brazil and others were approaching the target reduction.
• World hunger is increasing: The World Food Summit (WFS) goal of halving the number of undernourished people in the world by 2015 is becoming more difficult to reach for many countries. FAO’s most recent estimates put the number of hungry people at 923 million in 2007, an increase of more than 80 million since the 1990–92 base period.
• High food prices share much of the blame: The most rapid increase in chronic hunger experienced in recent years occurred between 2003–05 and 2007. FAO’s provisional estimates show that, in 2007, 75 million more people were added to the total number of undernourished relative to 2003–05. While several factors are responsible, high food prices are driving millions of people into food insecurity, worsening conditions for many who were already food-insecure, and threatening long-term global food security.
• The poorest, landless and female-headed households are the hardest hit: The vast majority of urban and rural households in the developing world rely on food purchases for most of their food and stand to lose from high food prices. High food prices reduce real income and worsen the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition among the poor by reducing the quantity and quality of food consumed.
• Initial governmental policy responses have had limited effect: To contain the negative effects of high food prices, governments have introduced various measures, such as price controls and export restrictions. While understandable from an immediate social welfare perspective, many of these actions have been ad hoc and are likely to be ineffective and unsustainable. Some have had damaging effects on world price levels and stability.
• By virtue of their size, China and India combined account for 42 percent of the chronically hungry people in thedeveloping world. The importance of China and India in the overall picture warrants some analysis of the main driving forces behind hunger trends
• After registering impressive gains between 1990–92 and the mid-1990s, progress in reducing hunger in India has stalled since about 1995–97. The high proportion of undernourished in India in the base had a challenging task in reducing the number of undernourished
• The increase in the number of undernourished in India can be traced to a slowing in the growth (even a slight decline) in per capita dietary energy supply for human consumption since 1995–97. On the demand side, life expectancy in India has increased from 59 to 63 years since 1990–92. This has had an important impact on the overall change in population structure, with the result that in 2003–05 the growth in minimum dietary energy requirements had outpaced that of dietary energy supply
• The combination of the declining per capita growth rate in total dietary energy supply and higher per capita dietary energy requirements resulted in an estimated 24 million more undernourished people in India in 2003–05 compared with the base period. The increased food needs of the ageing population amount to about 6.5 million tonnes per year in cereal equivalent. Nevertheless, the prevalence of hunger in India decreased from 24 percent in 1990–92 to 21 percent in 2003–05, marking progress towards meeting the MDG hunger reduction target.
• On the composite index of food insecurity of rural India, states like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are found in the ‘very high’ level of food insecurity, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. The indicators used for computing the index of food insecurity in rural India are: a) Percentage of population consuming less than 1,890 Kcal /cu/diem; b) Percentage of households not having access to safe drinking water; c) Percentage of households not having access to toilets within the premises; d) Percentage of ever-married women age 15 – 49 years who are anaemic; e) Percentage of women (15 – 49 yrs) with CED; f) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are anaemic; and, g) Percentage of children in the age group 6 – 35 months who are stunted
• The better performers include Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, all of which report an Index value below 0.5
• The proportion of population consuming less than 1890 kcal/cu/diem has in fact increased in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Rajasthan and marginally for Punjab.
• Almost 2/3rd of rural households in Jharkhand did not have access to safe drinking water in 2001.
• More than 90 percent of rural households in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh did not have access to toilets within their premises.
• As many as eight states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – have shown increase in the incidence of anaemia among women in the reproductive age group. The highest increase in anaemia levels has been observed in Andhra Pradesh (51 to 64 percent), followed by Haryana (48 to 57 percent) and Kerala (23 to 32 percent).
• The proportion of women with CED has drastically increased for Assam (28 to 40 percent) followed by Bihar (40 to 46 percent), Madhya Pradesh (42 to 45 percent) and Haryana (31 to 33 percent).
Write Comments