Setting a proper diet plan (India and the Global Hunger Index)

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Setting a proper diet plan (India and the Global Hunger Index)

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• India in GHI: Despite a fast-growing economy, India ranks 103 of 119 nations in Global Hunger Index 2018.
• Child malnutrition levels: India has very high levels of it, and it varies across States.

1. The NFHS 2016 shows stunted kids (low height for age) at 38.4% (global average 22.9%). Total 5.33 crore are stunted.
2. The underweight (low weight for age) kids re 35.7%, while global avg. is 13.5%. Total 4.96 crore are underweight.
3. 2.92 crore are wasted (low weight for height) kids.

• Prosperity is useless: Obviously, more economic prosperity has not dented chronic malnutrition in children. It will affect entire education, wages and productivity of the whole lifecycle.
• Wrong thinking on growth: We talk of growth in terms of investments. That may just not translate into better nutrition!
• EAG states: The low income and Empowered-Action Group (EAG) states face major challenges, but Chhattisgarh and Odisha have done better than Gujarat and Maharashtra (non EAG states!) that are twice as rich per capita.
• How? Gujarat considers investment as growth. Odisha has a better ICDS network, more public health workforce per lakh population, and higher education among women. Odisha does better in nutrition than Gujarat.  (Integrated Child Development Services ICDS is a nutrition intervention)
• Vulnerable groups: In economically advanced states like Punjab, Haryana and Gujarat, vulnerable groups like the tribals, rural, poor, illiterate are badly off. So too in pooer states like UP, Bihar, MP.
• Agriculture and nutrition: Agri surplus states (Haryana) display little connection between the two (34% stunted and 29.5% underweight). Malnutrition in Gurgaon is higher than the Odisha average. MP with a double-digit agri growth has acute malnutrition.
• Food Intake Index: We have to focus on diversity of food intake. The FII uses 19 food items, and clearly shows that districts where FII is high, have low malnutrition. 50% children are stunted if they eat less than 3 food items. TN children consume highly diversified food, and have higher nutrition.
• Overall scene: Only 28% children in India consume more than 5 items (of the 19).
• Solution? We need a holistic approach.

1. Controlling food prices    
2. Strengthening the PDS
3. Income support policies (food security)   
4. Improving the ICDS across India
5. Proper execution of National Nutrition Mission    
6. Budgetary support to fight malnutrition

• Summary - Economic growth is not associated with removal of malnutrition, and therein lies a bitter lesson.

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