How is India countering the hunger issue?

Access to food is one of the most basic rights of each and every person. Since 2000, the scores of Global Hunger Index have declined by 27%, but, 815 million people i.e. 1 in 9 people across the globe still suffer from chronic hunger each day. Of this, 190.7 million reside in India! Also, while we discuss about remedies for various diseases and disorders, are we aware that hunger is the number one cause of death in the world? Remaining specific to India, the government has initiated several programmes to eliminate hunger from the grass root level, but before delving into the solutions, here is a quick overview on the hunger problem in India.

Hunger problem in India

In the world map,

•             India is home to 1/3rd of world’s hungry population

•             The total hunger population in India is 190.7 million

•             India ranks 100 among 119 countries in Global Hunger Index 2017 thereby falling under the ‘serious’ range

•             21% children under five years of age suffer from wasting

•             40% children under five years of age suffer from stunting

There are several causes for the current hunger situation in India. But, at the core of it are:

•             The vicious cycle of unemployment-poverty-illiteracy; and

•             Improper supply-chain leading to unavailability and inaccessibility to food

Ways to tackle hunger

The Government of India has initiated programmes like Anganwadi feeding, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and the recently launched National Nutrition Mission as a response to tackle the hunger situation in the country. It has welcomed the participation of NGOs for the implementation of these programmes so that maximum impact can be attained.

The Akshaya Patra Foundation is one such NGO in India implementing the Mid-Day Meal Scheme as its primary feeding programme and Anganwadi feeding as one of its subsidiary feeding programmes.

•             Mid-Day Meal Programme

As a mid-day meal NGO in India, Akshaya Patra is currently providing freshly cooked, nutritious mid-day meals to more than 1.75 million children in 38 locations across 12 states of India.

•             Anganwadi programme

As part of the Anganwadi feeding initiative, Akshaya Patra is currently providing nutritious meals in 4,786 Anganwadi centres in nine locations of five states of India. It has a beneficiary base of 1,61,410 young children in the age group of 3 years to 6 years and more than 6,000 pregnant and lactating mothers. The below table enlists the Foundation’s reach in Anganwadi feeding:

By implementing the Anganwadi feeding programme, Akshaya Patra wants to ensure that children, expecting and lactating mothers have access to nutritious diet in sufficient quantity during the crucial developmental stages.

Result of the feeding programmes

The outcome and the importance of mid-day meal is visible in the impact it has had in the health, nutrition level, and education of children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The below is a snapshot of mid-day meal’s impact on children:

Similarly, the Anganwadi feeding programme is contributing to:

Be the solution for India’s hunger problem

Well, the efforts of the government and of the NGOs can come to complete fruition only when each member of the civil society actively and responsibly act to fight the hunger problem. Today, take the pledge to be the solution for India’s hunger problem. Because when you act with us, we can defeat hunger!