Do people still die of hunger in India?
Hunger -The pertinent issue even after 75 years of Independence !!
Hungry Children- Hungry Future !
The famous proverb - Health is wealth has started losing its importance amidst present scenario of prevailing hunger worldwide. According to Food & Agriculture Organization United Nations, globally around 8.9 % (690 million) of the people go to bed empty stomach daily and expected to reach a horrific figure of 840 million by 2030. In addition to the hunger, food waste equally has deep root impact, as per food waste Index 2021, globally 931 million tones food been wasted with 61 percent coming from households, 26 percent from food services and 13 percent from retail. In the race of shaming humanity, China holds the first position in food waste with a harrowing figure of 64 Kg per capita per year or 91,646,213 tones a year followed by US with 59 kg per capita per year, or 19,359,951 tones a year where as Indians wasted 50 kg food per capita on an annual basis 68,760,163 tones a year.
The above shared statics are worrisome which compels us to take stringent corrective measures not only to ensure sustainability but to secure food for all. India is believe to be the growing world power with numerous potential to be the Vishwa Guru once again but unfortunately in the absence of basic amenities, this would be a day dream only. Children are said to be the future of any country, that future whose survival and contribution in world’s prosperity with mankind depends upon the availability of food.
Hunger in Indian children-
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reported that 882,000 children in India under the age of five (highest in the world) died prematurely in 2018 with 17.7 lakh severely malnourished. Over 20 crore Indians go to sleep empty-stomach every day. Despite food production rise of 3.74 per cent to a new record of 308.65 million tones in the crop year 2020-21, India is facing hunger at alarming rate. A study published by Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, stated that In India, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar and Assam have the highest hunger and malnutrition level resulting accelerated deaths. Children’s having under and over nutrition, excess of imbalances in their intake of energy, protein or other nutrients. To mention, malnutrition caused 69 per cent of under-five deaths in India. Good health are perceived not only at the individual level but also at the level of society and country level as well.
Who is responsible for children’s death by hunger?
India is a developing country where majority of folks are either middle class or poors who are living in rural areas with lack of basic infrastructure and opportunity. Poverty the main cause of hunger calling malnutrition and starvation. Poverty with lack of money worsen the situation that many cannot get even food they need to survive. Another cause of children’s death is lack of access to food. The habit of wasting food equally creates loss of opportunity for the underprivileged with imbalance.
Food For Thought- Hunger Solutions
1. Sustainable Food Channels-We need to device proactive sustainable food channels with back up food reserves, to ensure proper food availability round the year with balanced food distribution and access to all. The food prices must be under government’s strict control and vigilance. In case of monsoon failure or crop loss, government must bring the situation under control by purchasing food from the foreign countries to restore food availability and distribution under controlled price.
2. Food Donation and Social Change- Government must encourage food donation (Food tiffin) from every households per day in every parts of India. These Food Tiffins will be delivered to underprivileged without fail across India. This will give a profound conducive impact on humanity.
3. Improvised Farming- With the blend of modern agriculture technologies, government must work on grass root level dedicatedly while imparting advanced agriculture knowledge, seeds, fertilizers and equipments as India is the land of village and farmers.
4. Access to Education- Quality education starting from pre nursery to higher level under controlled environment will facilitate to take a well informed decision be it career, country or health.
5. Government Interventions-India's hunger situation is a serious cause for concern that needs the attention not only of civilians but of policymakers at the highest level.