October 12, 2024: The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report, released by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, places India at a concerning 105th position out of 127 countries, indicating a serious level of hunger. With a score of 27.3, the report reveals a slight increase in undernourishment across the nation, signaling ongoing struggles in tackling food insecurity.

While India’s current GHI score shows improvement from 29.3 in 2016, it remains behind many neighboring countries. Notably, the country has made progress since alarmingly high scores of 38.4 and 35.2 in 2000 and 2008, respectively. Despite this progress, the situation remains critical, particularly in the context of child nutrition.

The report highlights that India continues to have the highest child wasting rate globally, at 18.7%. Additionally, child stunting affects 35.5% of the population, with an under-five mortality rate of 2.9% and a prevalence of undernourishment at 13.7%. Although there has been a decline in child mortality rates since 2000, child undernutrition remains a pressing issue, with both wasting and stunting rates remaining alarmingly high.

It is essential to note that the 2024 GHI report is not directly comparable to its 2023 predecessor due to methodological changes and revised data. However, it provides a comparative framework based on data from 2000, 2008, 2016, and 2024.

The report also casts a shadow on global efforts to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030, noting that progress in reducing hunger has stagnated since 2016. Among the assessed countries, 42 still face 'alarming' or 'serious' levels of hunger, underscoring the need for urgent action.

Furthermore, the GHI emphasizes the interconnectedness of hunger, climate change, and gender inequality. It warns that discriminatory norms and gender-based violence disproportionately affect women and sexual minorities, heightening their vulnerability to food insecurity and climate impacts while undermining their coping capacities.

As India grapples with these pressing issues, the GHI report serves as a critical call to action for policymakers and stakeholders to address the multifaceted challenges of hunger and malnutrition, especially among its most vulnerable populations.