Question : MDG ON HUNGER

(a) whether the Government has taken note of the latest report regarding UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on hunger released recently indicating that hunger level in Asia, including India is not decreasing as projected;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the number of hunger/ starvation deaths reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State wise;

(c) whether India is projected to miss the Millennium Development Goals for eradication of hunger; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the corrective steps taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE)

(a) to (c): Yes, Madam. The Government of India has assessed the progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in its Report Millennium Development Goals India Country Report 2014. India is required to reduce the propo- rtion of underweight children below 3 years of age from estimated 52% in 1990 to 26% by 2015. As per this report, the proportion of underweight children is expected to come down to about 33% by 2015. Thus India will fall short of achieving the target of 26%.

No State/UT Governments has reported any hunger/starvation deaths during each of the last three years and the current year.

(d): The Government of India is implementing several schemes/ programmes of different Ministries/Departments to improve food security situation in the country These include Targeted Public Distribution System(TPDS), Wheat Based Nutrition Programme (WBNP) for providing Supplementary Nutrition, Integrated Child Develo- pment Services (ICDS) Scheme for pre-school children and pregnant and lactating mothers through the Ministry of Women and Child Development, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) through Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Mid-Day-Meal (MDM) Scheme for primary and upper primary children through Ministry of Human Resource Development, Annapurna Scheme for the senior citizens, Nutritional Programme for Adolescent Girls, Emergency Feeding Programme, etc.

The Government has enacted the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 which provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population to receive highly subsidized foodgrains under TPDS. Under this Act, two-thirds of the total population of the country is estimated to receive benefits under TPDS. The Act also contains provisions for nutritional support to Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers or children below 14 years of age.