Question : Global Hunger Index

(a) the ranking accorded to the country in the Global Hunger Index Report, 2015 prepared by the International Food Policy Research Institute and the steps taken by the Government to improve this position;
(b) whether a significant proportion of the population continue to suffer from lack of food according to the said report;
(c) if so, the details thereof and the measures taken to look into all the aspects of the problem;
(d) whether Targeted Public Distribution System and National Food Security Act have been successful to control the issues of hunger and malnutrition in the country, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(e) whether the India State Hunger Index has also been prepared, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto indicating the number of starvation, deaths in each State/UT during each of the last three years and the current year?

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) to (d): As per information available in the public domain, Global Hunger Index report 2015 brought out by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in its latest publication released in October, 2015, India’s rank has been calculated as 80.
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The report provides the following undernourishment and malnutrition related statistics on India
- 15.2% of the population are undernourished and suffer from lack of food.
- 38.8 of children under the age of five are stunted.
- 15.0 % of children under 5 years are wasted and
- Under five mortality rate is quoted as 5.3%
The Government of India has accorded high priority to the issue of hunger and malnutrition in the country and is implementing several schemes/programmes through State Governments/UT Administrations 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 Development Services (ICDS) Scheme for pre-school children and pregnant and lactating mothers through the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Mid-Day-Meal Scheme (MDM) 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 is also implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 to provide food security to the population. The Act provides for coverage of upto 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population to receive highly subsidized foodgrains under TPDS. The Act also contains provisions for nutritional support to Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers or children below 14 years of age.
Foodgrains at highly subsidized prices are provided to the targeted population through State Governments/UT Administrations under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), National Food Security Act (NFSA) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS). During the year 2014-15, Government of India has allocated 614.54 lakh tonnes of foodgrains under TPDS, NFSA and OWS. During 2015-16, Government of India has so far allocated 610.39 lakh tonnes of foodgrains under TPDS, NFSA and OWS.
(e): International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) published the “India State Hunger Index” report in February, 2009 . No further state-level reports have been published after this. No death due to starvation has been reported during the last three years and current year. As indicated above, the schemes of TPDS, NFSA and OWS are being implemented to address the issue of starvation in the country.
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