India 94 in world hunger index, below Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh

India is behind Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in a list of 117 countries in hunger and malnutrition, according to a report released by a peer-reviewed annual report, jointly published by Ireland’s Concern Worldwide and Germany’s Welthungerhilfe.

It was the lowest-ranked among South Asian countries (the rest being ranked between 66 and 94) and way behind the other Brics nations, the lowest of which was South Africa at 59.

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) scores countries on a 100-point “severity scale”, where zero is the best score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst. “With a score of 30.3, India suffers from a level of hunger that is serious,” the report says.

India fell from 55 in 2014 to 102 in 2019 in the GHI. However, the number of countries has differed from year to year. India ranked 55 out of 76 nations in 2014, 100 out of 119 countries in 2017, and 103 out of 119 countries in 2018. This year’s report calculated the index from a sample of 117 nations and India came on 102.

Pakistan is at 94, Bangladesh 88 and Nepal 73 in this year’s GHI report that the authors say is designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and national levels.

“Because of its large population, India’s Global Hunger Index indicator values have an outsized impact on the indicator values for the region… India’s child wasting rate is extremely high at 20.8% — the highest wasting rate of any country in this report for which data or estimates were available,” the GHI report says.

The index was calculated on four parameters: undernourishment; child wasting, or the share of children under five years who have a low weight for their age; child stunting, or the share of children under five years who have a low height for their age, and child mortality rate under five years.

Also read: World hunger worsens: One in nine people do not have enough to eat

Opposition slams Centre

Reacting to the report, Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac tweeted, “2019 Global Hunger Index is out. India further slips down in rank to 102. The slide started with PM Modi’s ascension. In 2014 India was ranked 55. In 2017 it slipped to 100 and in now to the levels of Niger and Sierra Leone. The majority of world’s hungry now resides in India.”

2019 Global Hunger Index is out. India further slips down in rank to 102 . The slide started with PM Modi’s ascension . In 2014 India was ranked 55 . In 2017 it slipped to 100 and in now to the levels of Niger and Sierra Leone. The majority of worlds hungry now resides in India.

— Thomas Isaac (@drthomasisaac) October 15, 2019

“According to 2019 Global Hunger Index, India has slipped to 102 out of 117 countries. The report says that India has ‘Serious’ hunger levels & yet many believe ‘Acche Din Aayega’. The question is when? Is it when all, except the Cronies, die of hunger?” former Karnataka chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah tweeted.

According to 2019 Global Hunger Index, India has slipped to 102 out of 117 countries. The report says that India has 'Serious' hunger levels & yet many believe 'Acche Din Aayega'.

The question is when?

Is it when all, except the Cronies, die of hunger?

2/2@INCIndia

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) October 16, 2019

Congress leader Kapil Sibal also took to social media to slam the government.

“Modi ji: Concentrate less on politics more on our children. They are our future. India slips on Global Hunger Index (GHI). 2010: 95th rank. 2019: 102nd rank. 93% of children (6 to 23) months don’t get minimum acceptable diet,” Sibal tweeted.

Modiji :

Concentrate less on politics more on our children . They are our future .

India slips on Global Hunger Index (GHI)

2010 : 95th rank
2019 : 102nd rank

93% of children (6 to 23) months don’t get minimum acceptable diet

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) October 16, 2019