Global Hunger Index, 2019

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is jointly published by Concern worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. The score if the index is calculated by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). It measures and tracks hunger at regional, national and global levels. The 2019 Global Hunger Index measures hunger of 117 countries. India was ranked 102^nd and was the lowest ranked among ranked among South Asian countries. The rest were ranked 66, 94, etc. Especially, India was far behind as compared to the BRICS nations.

The GHI score is based on the proportion of country’s child population that is undernourished, children who are under 5 years of age and have insufficient weight for their height, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR under 5 years old children) and children whose height is not commensurate to their age

Key findings of the report

• India was at rank 93 in 2015 and has slipped places terribly
• Pakistan had pulled ahead and was at rank 94.
• Among the BRICS nations, Brazil topped on 18^th rank, followed by Russia on 22^nd, China on 25^th, followed by South Africa (59), Sri Lanka (66), Nepal (73), Bangladesh (88), Pakistan (94), and India (102).
• India’s child wasting is extremely high at 20.8%
• Only 9.6% of children (6 to 23 months) were fed minimum acceptable diet

The report praised Bangladesh and Nepal for their progresses.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2019