Question : India’s Ranking in Global Hunger Index

(a) the details of the country’s ranking in the Global Hunger Index report during the last three years;
(b) the ranking accorded to the country in the Global Hunger Index Report 2017 prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute;
(c) whether a substantial proportion of the country’s population continue to suffer from lack of food according to the said report, if so, the details thereof and the measures taken to look into all the aspects of the problem;
(d) whether the country’s Global Hunger Index score is lower as compared to those of developing countries, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(e) the other steps taken by the Government to improve its ranking in Global Hunger Index; and
(f) whether it is true that in many States the bodies responsible for implementation of NFSA had not been set up and the budget expenditure and actual expenditure on NFSA during 2016-17 are having wide gap, if so, the facts and details thereof and the steps the Union Government proposes to take to bring a comprehensive solution to eliminate hunger and effectively implement NFSA?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a) & (b): As per information available in the public domain, the India’s ranking in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) reports brought out by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) during last three years and in 2017 are as under:-
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GHI 2014
55th out of 76 countries
GHI 2015
80th out of 104 countries
GHI 2016
97th out of 118 countries
GHI 2017
100th out of 119 countries
(c): As per the GHI Report 2017, the composite GHI scores of India have improved from 46.2 in 1992 to 38.2 in 2000 and further to 35.6 in 2008 and 31.4 in 2017. Thus the country has shown consistent improvement over the years. However, Government is implementing the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) which provides for coverage of 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of the urban population for receiving foodgrains (rice, wheat & coarsegrains) at highly subsidized rates. The Act is being implemented in all States/UTs and 80.72 crore persons are being covered for receiving highly subsidized foodgrains. The Act also has focus on institutional support to women and children through schemes implemented by the concerned Ministries.
(d): There is no universally agreed upon criteria for assigning the country as developing. However, India’s ranking in GHI 2017 is 100 out of 119 countries. Year on year comparison of country’s ranks, scores or indicators are not accurate due to continuous revision and improvement of current and historical data by concerned United Nations agencies. Moreover due to non- availability of data different countries are included in GHI ranking each year and the methodology of calculation of GHI has also changed in 2015.
(e): Recently, National Nutrition Mission has been approved by the Government for addressing malnutrition status of the country in a comprehensive manner.
(f): National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) is implemented under the joint responsibility of Central and State Governments. Central Government is responsible for allocation of foodgrains to States/UTs as per the entitlement of eligible households and coverage determined for the State/UT under the Act, and its delivery upto the designated depots of Food Corporation of India for each State/UT. Further responsibility for its distribution to the eligible households lies with State Governments/UT Administration. Implementation of the scheme by States/UTs is regularly monitored at various levels.
As regards budget allocation and expenditure, during 2016-17, the budget estimate for the scheme Central assistance to States/UTs for meeting expenditure on intra-State movement, handling of foodgrains and FPS dealers’ margin under NFSA was Rs. 2500 cr. which was entirely utilized. Similarly, during 2016-17, the budget estimate for the scheme Assistance to States/UTs for non-building assets for State Food Commissions was Rs. 1.00 crore out of which Rs. 0.56 crore was released.
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