Union Minister Smriti Irani has raised questions about the Global Hunger Index rankings for India during a discussion on the “Future Role of Women in India” at a FICCI event. In her statement, Irani expressed concerns about the accuracy and intent of certain indices, such as the Global Hunger Index, in representing India’s progress.
During her speech, Irani challenged the methodology of the Global Hunger Index, saying, “How do they build that index? 3000 people from a country of 140 crore get a phone call from Gallup, and they are asked, ‘Are you hungry?'” She highlighted the limitations of such data collection methods.
The recently released Global Hunger Index-2023 ranked India 111th out of 125 countries. Irani’s comments come in response to this ranking, which the Indian government swiftly dismissed as inaccurate and potentially malicious.
Congress leader Supriya Shrinate criticized Irani’s remarks and explained that a country’s Global Hunger Index is heavily based on four indicators: Undernourishment, Child Stunting, Child Wasting, and Child Mortality. The index also highlighted India’s highest child wasting rate globally, standing at 18.7%, indicating severe undernutrition.
According to the Global Hunger Index-2023, India received a score of 28.7, indicating a serious level of hunger. Interestingly, India’s neighboring nations, including Pakistan (102nd), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th), and Sri Lanka (60th), outperformed India in this particular index.
The Indian government released data from its Poshan tracker, which consistently showed child wasting below 7.2% month-on-month, in contrast to the 18.7% reported in the Global Hunger Index 2023.
The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimated food insecurity in India at 16.6% using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale survey. The survey was conducted through the Gallup World Poll, an opinion poll based on eight questions with a sample size of 3,000 respondents.
Irani’s questioning of the Global Hunger Index rankings highlights concerns over the accuracy and methodology of such indices. The debate on India’s hunger and nutrition status remains a critical issue, and a more comprehensive assessment is needed to address the complex challenges of food security and nutrition in the country.
