Many children still go hungry in India
Source: Agencies |
October 16, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
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INDIA is a global breadbasket with an economic growth among the world's fastest, but is still home to 42 percent of the world's underweight children.
The stark statistic, released by the United States-based Food Policy Institute ahead of World Food Day today, stands in contrast to the country's burgeoning economy and hopes of boosting its global stature as demonstrated by its hosting of this year's Commonwealth Games.
"We need to be asking ourselves, what or who is this economic growth for?" said ActionAid India director Sandeep Chachra on Thursday. "Do we want to create a shining India that looks good in the city centers but with large populations in extreme deprivation, even starvation?"
With rocketing economic growth at nearly 9 percent, and as one of the world's top producers of wheat, -potatoes and many other foods, many observers argue it should be easy for India to give back to its own poor.
However, the report from the Food Policy Institute puts India among the worst hunger sufferers, ranking 67th out of 84 countries on its Global Hunger Index - down two spots from last year's list, while Pakistan was placed 52nd. That -report compared statistics on countries' -underweight children and child mortality rates.
Another report on Wednesday noted that, among the community of 54 former British colonies that competed in this month's Delhi games, India ranked worst in terms of child hunger, with 43 percent of its children underweight compared with 31 percent in Pakistan and 23 percent in Nigeria. Those numbers, offered by the Save the Children organization, cited 2009 data from UNICEF.
"India needs to walk the walk, not just give the talk," Chachra said. "Our economic growth is based on a model that favors the few."
That many people in India are underfed "is not something the world does not know," said Dr Rajiv Tandon, of Save the Children in India.
But improving nutrition and food distribution will require getting authorities in agriculture, health care, education and women's empowerment to cooperate.
"It needs humility. They have to give a little, take a little," Tandon said.
The stark statistic, released by the United States-based Food Policy Institute ahead of World Food Day today, stands in contrast to the country's burgeoning economy and hopes of boosting its global stature as demonstrated by its hosting of this year's Commonwealth Games.
"We need to be asking ourselves, what or who is this economic growth for?" said ActionAid India director Sandeep Chachra on Thursday. "Do we want to create a shining India that looks good in the city centers but with large populations in extreme deprivation, even starvation?"
With rocketing economic growth at nearly 9 percent, and as one of the world's top producers of wheat, -potatoes and many other foods, many observers argue it should be easy for India to give back to its own poor.
However, the report from the Food Policy Institute puts India among the worst hunger sufferers, ranking 67th out of 84 countries on its Global Hunger Index - down two spots from last year's list, while Pakistan was placed 52nd. That -report compared statistics on countries' -underweight children and child mortality rates.
Another report on Wednesday noted that, among the community of 54 former British colonies that competed in this month's Delhi games, India ranked worst in terms of child hunger, with 43 percent of its children underweight compared with 31 percent in Pakistan and 23 percent in Nigeria. Those numbers, offered by the Save the Children organization, cited 2009 data from UNICEF.
"India needs to walk the walk, not just give the talk," Chachra said. "Our economic growth is based on a model that favors the few."
That many people in India are underfed "is not something the world does not know," said Dr Rajiv Tandon, of Save the Children in India.
But improving nutrition and food distribution will require getting authorities in agriculture, health care, education and women's empowerment to cooperate.
"It needs humility. They have to give a little, take a little," Tandon said.
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